Winemaker

Meteora Vineyard; Ballandean; On-site; AUD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Collaborative estate environment

Hands-on involvement across the full winemaking cycle

Exposure to contract client production programs

Beautiful high-altitude workplace setting

Job summary

Meteora Vineyard is seeking an experienced Winemaker to join their estate production team in Queensland's Granite Belt wine region. This hands-on role entails fermentation management, cellar operations, and supporting contract winemaking clients. Candidates should have at least 5 years of winery experience and a degree in Oenology. The position offers an opportunity to contribute to a rising regional wine brand and involves working closely with both vineyard and hospitality teams. Remuneration ranges from 80K to 100K AUD per year depending on experience.

Qualifications

• 5+ years winery experience.
• Demonstrated blending trial participation experience.
• Practical filtration and stability program knowledge.
• Experience coordinating intake scheduling and tank space.
• Confidence working across multiple wine styles and batches.

Responsibilities

• Execute day-to-day production operations across estate wines and contract programs.
• Manage fermentation including yeast selection and temperature control.
• Conduct laboratory analysis and interpretation.
• Participate in blending trials and sensory evaluation.
• Support contract winemaking clients and maintain production records.

Skills

Winemaking operations

Fermentation management

Laboratory analysis

Blending trial participation

Forklift operation

Team collaboration

Education

Degree in Oenology / Viticulture & Oenology

Job description

Meteora Vineyard is seeking an experienced and motivated Winemaker to join our estate production team in Queensland’s premium Granite Belt wine region.

Working closely with our Senior Winemaker, this is a hands‑on role with real technical responsibility across fermentation management, cellar operations, blending trials, contract winemaking support and harvest coordination.

This position offers the opportunity to help shape wines from a distinctive high‑altitude estate vineyard within a newly established luxury wine destination focused on site expression, precision winemaking and long‑term brand building.

If you’re looking to step into a role with ownership, variety and influence across multiple wine programs, this is a rare opportunity in the region.

About the role

You’ll play a key role in executing day‑to‑day production operations across both estate wines and selected contract client programs, supporting all stages from grape intake through maturation and bottling preparation.

Responsibilities include:

• Day‑to‑day execution of winemaking operations across multiple batches
• Fermentation management including yeast selection, nutrition strategy and temperature control
• Laboratory analysis and interpretation
• Tank scheduling, transfers, additions and barrel program support
• Participation in blending trials and sensory evaluation
• Filtration planning and execution (crossflow / sheet / membrane)
• Stability management including protein and tartrate programs
• Oxygen management across all production stages
• Intake coordination and vintage workflow planning
• Supporting contract winemaking clients and style execution
• Maintaining production records and compliance systems
• Assisting with bottling preparation and packaging logistics
• Supporting harvest planning and vineyard interface activities
• Occasional cellar door engagement and brand representation

You’ll also help coordinate daily cellar workflow priorities and provide guidance to vintage and cellar staff during busy periods.

About you

We’re looking for someone technically capable, organised and confident working within a premium small‑batch environment.

You’ll ideally bring:

• 5+ years winery experience
• Degree in Oenology / Viticulture & Oenology (preferred)
• Demonstrated blending trial participation experience
• Practical filtration and stability program knowledge
• Experience coordinating intake scheduling and tank space
• Understanding of production efficiency, yield and losses
• Confidence working across multiple wine styles and batches
• Forklift licence (essential)
• RSA (or willingness to obtain)

Most importantly, you’ll enjoy working as part of a collaborative estate team building something distinctive from the ground up.

The Opportunity

This is a chance to be part of a new premium vineyard project at an exciting stage of growth, with exposure across estate wines, contract production and brand development.

We offer

• Hands‑on involvement across the full winemaking cycle
• Opportunity to contribute to blending and style development
• Exposure to contract client production programs
• A collaborative estate environment working closely with vineyard and hospitality teams
• A beautiful high‑altitude Granite Belt workplace setting
• The opportunity to help shape a rising regional wine brand from early foundations

Remuneration

80-100K per year depending on experience