Lab Technician (Wine Jobs: Vineyards & Cellars )

Full Time

  Chapel Down (http://www.chapeldown.com)

  Tenterden, Kent, England

The Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with oenological laboratory and cellar experience to help deliver the next phase of development for the UK’s leading wine producer. It requires an individual who can work efficiently and methodically, alone and as part of a team.  This is a full-time role, but flexible hours could be discussed for the right candidate. Being available for longer hours over the harvest period however, is essential.

About Chapel Down

Chapel Down is England’s leading winemaker with a mission to change the way the World thinks about English wine forever. Its talented winemakers produce world-class sparkling and still wines from grapes grown on the chalky terroir in the South-East. The Chapel Down winery, based in the picturesque market town of Tenterden in Kent, with excellent visitor facilities and welcomes over 55,000 visitors each year.

The company is listed on Aquis Exchange and as well as strong, institutional backing, has a large number of individual shareholders, in excess of 8,500 all of whom are strong advocates of the brand and its products.  Our multi award-winning wines are sold direct to consumers through a fast growing e-commerce business and to retail partners, including Waitrose, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Majestic, Selfridges and Harrods, as well as leading bars, restaurants and hotels in the UK and internationally.

Regularly receiving international accolades, Chapel Down is also an official wine supplier to 10 Downing Street and is the first English winery to ever feature in the London Stock Exchange’s 1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain.

About the role 

The Lab/Cellar hand role will have full responsibility for the Chapel Down laboratory. Key responsibilities will include conducting all required lab analysis, keeping organised lab records, whilst upholding a high level of cleanliness. This position will require lab experience and knowledge of fermentation science as you will be responsible for the juice analysis at harvest all the way through to quality control measures of the final disgorged product. This will involve meticulous attention to detail and an in-depth understanding of standard winery laboratory practices. Although predominantly lab based, assistance in the winery as a Cellar hand will occasionally be required.

  • Accurately run and maintain equipment required for all juice/wine parameters throughout the year. This currently includes measuring density via hydrometer, pH via meter/probe, TA via pH titration, enzymatic assay spectrophotometric analysis for YAN, Glucose, Fructose, and Malic Acid, ABV via ebulliometer, monitor MLF with paper chromatography, free & total SO2 via aeration/oxidation method, cold stability checks using checkstab machine and build bench trials for various additions.
  • Conducting all Quality Control analysis
  • Lab verification using both internal and external standards
  • Taking responsibility for implementing and improving QC measures. This includes developing product specifications and tolerances then flagging out of spec products
  • Responsible for lab H&S, maintaining COSHH sheets and PPE assessments
  • Accurate record keeping
  • Trialing new equipment and justifying purchases
  • Keeping all work areas clean and tidy
  • Carrying out cellar hand tasks when required such as racking, transferring, making additions and cleaning tanks
  • Helping out with bottling when required

About you

  • You will have practical and theoretical oenological knowledge, ideally with a Tertiary qualification
  • You will be exceptional organised, able to manage time brilliantly, prioritise and work independently
  • You’ll be a whizz with Excel
  • You are highly motivated, especially when it comes to improving quality
  • You are a great communicator
  • You have no fear in carrying out physical hard work, sometimes at heights and whatever the weather!
  • You have the capacity and interest to scientifically trial new lab methods for our growing winery and if appropriate be able to justify the purchase of new equipment
  • Ideally, you’ll have a Tertiary qualification in wine chemistry
  • Experience working in an oenological lab and hands on work in a winery is preferred

What we can offer you

  • A contributory pension
  • 20 days holiday plus bank holidays
  • A generous discount on all Chapel Down products
  • A forward-thinking team with the opportunity to shape English winemaking

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