Assistant Winemaker

Petersons Wines; Cessnock; On-site; AUD 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Petersons Wines in the Hunter Valley is seeking a hands-on winery assistant to support operations from grape intake to bottling preparation. You will work under senior winemaking staff, gaining practical experience across fermentation, cellar tasks, barrel work and quality checks.

The role emphasizes safety, teamwork and attention to detail, with training provided during the vintage season. Forklift and current driver licence are preferred, Australian work rights are required.

Qualifications

• Demonstrates safety-minded approach and reliability.
• Team player with strong communication.
• Comfortable with long shifts and weekend work during vintage.
• Forklift licence and valid driver licence required.
• Australian work rights are essential.

Responsibilities

• Grape receival: fruit intake, sampling, weighing, analysis
• Grape crushing and pressing operations
• Fermentation: inoculations/yeast preparation, temperature checks, Baume testing, data entry
• Cellar work: pump-overs, plunging, racking, transfers, juice/wine movements, additions (as directed)
• Barrel work: filling, topping, washing, analysis checks
• High standard of equipment hygiene: tanks, pumps, presses, hoses, fittings, floors
• General duties: forklift, housekeeping, waste management, record keeping, safety checks
• Competent laboratory techniques and perform laboratory analysis
• Computer programmed winemaking record keeping and data entry skills

Skills

Safety-minded

Team player

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Forklift licence

Driver licence

RSA

Australian work rights

Education

Tertiary winemaking qualification

Job description

Ideal for those wishing to pursue and further develop their winemaking career, this role offers broad exposure and training to vintage and winery operations in a dynamic environment. You'll be working under the guidance of senior winemaking staff, gaining valuable hands-on skills across all aspects of winery operations from grape receival through to tasting and preparing wines for bottling.

Key responsibilities

• Grape receival: fruit intake, sampling, weighing, analysis
• Grape crushing and pressing operations
• Fermentation: inoculations/yeast preparation, temperature checks, Baume testing, data entry
• Cellar work: pump-overs, plunging, racking, transfers, juice/wine movements, additions (as directed)
• Barrel work: filling, topping, washing, analysis checks
• High standard of equipment hygiene: tanks, pumps, presses, hoses, fittings, floors
• General duties: forklift, housekeeping, waste management, record keeping, safety checks
• Competent laboratory techniques and perform laboratory analysis
• Computer programmed winemaking record keeping and data entry skills

About you

• Enthusiastic, reliable, safety-minded and a team player
• Strong work ethic with ability to perform manual tasks
• Comfortable working long shifts and weekends during the vintage harvest period
• Excellent attention to detail and communication skills
• Completed tertiary winemaking qualifications or currently studying a tertiary winemaking qualification is preferred
• Previous and advanced levels of on the job winery vintage and cellar experience are required
• Forklift licence required (or willingness to obtain) + current driver licence required
• RSA or willingness to obtain (for occasional events)
• Must have Australian work rights

About us

Petersons Wines, in partnership with Hunter Valley Wine Contractors, is a respected and long-established Hunter Valley wine producer.