Winemaker

Gibbston Valley Winery; Gibbston; On-site; NZD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vehicle allowance

Wine allowance / staff allocation

Professional development support

Staff discount

Job summary

Gibbston Valley Winery in Central Otago is seeking a Winemaker to join one of the region’s most established destination wineries. You will work with the Head Winemaker to craft organic Central Otago wines from Bendigo, Gibbston and Pisa.

You will own day-to-day wine condition, analysis and oenological monitoring, lead cellar teams, and ensure bottling readiness and compliance. This hands-on role requires technical skill, organizational ability and strong collaboration with vineyard and

Qualifications

• Technically strong winemaking knowledge and ability to manage winery operations.
• Experience with premium still and sparkling wine production desirable.
• Ability to lead cellar teams and communicate clearly with internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day wine condition, analysis and oenological monitoring.
• Manage operational vineyard follow-through and cellar workflows.
• Supervise cellar staff, issue work orders, and support vintage staffing.
• Ensure bottling readiness, production records and compliance documentation (WSMP/organic audits).
• Represent the winery at tastings, media and visitor events.

Skills

Wine production

Blending

Quality control

Record keeping

Team leadership

Tools

Vintrace

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Gibbston Valley Winery – Gibbston, South Island

Gibbston Valley Wines is seeking a Winemaker to join one of Central Otago’s most established and inspiring destination wineries.

Woking with the Head Winemaker, this is a rare role for someone who enjoys both the creative and disciplined sides of winemaking. You will be a key member of the team producing Organic Central Otago wine from Bendigo, Gibbston and Pisa.

At Gibbston Valley Wines, driven by a commitment to quality, and continuous improvement, our culture is built on the values of: Care Always | Craft with Purpose | Grow Together | Honour the Land

Why this role matters

• You will bring thoughtful, creative, and technical input across the winemaking programme.
• You will help shape wines through active tasting, blend trials, conditioning decisions, and quality reviews.
• You will help connect vineyard intent with winery execution through regular vineyard observation and liaison
• You will own much of the operating rhythm of the winery: cellar workflow, wine condition, technical bottling readiness, compliance, records, stock, equipment upkeep and monthly reporting.
• You will help lead and set up cellar and vintage teams.
• You will represent GVW wines in a destination-winery setting through selected wine club, media, trade and visitor tastings.

What you will own

• Day-to-day wine condition, analysis and oenological monitoring
• Operational vineyard follow-through
• Cellar-hand supervision, work orders, vintage staffing support and practical team setup.
• Bottling readiness, Vintrace accuracy and production records.
• WSMP, BioGro/organic audit readiness, traceability and compliance evidence.
• Stock visibility for bulk wine, additives, consumables and cellar supplies.
• Equipment upkeep, service tracking and readiness for cellar work.

Vineyard interface

The Winemaker will have an important operational role in making sure vineyard prescriptions are understood, monitored and fed back into winery decisions.

Hands-on winery work

This is an active, hands-on role in a working winery. You will lead the cellar rhythm, but you will also be part of the work. Cellar-hand support will be available for part of the year, particularly around vintage and peak workload periods, but the Winemaker should expect to remain involved in day-to-day winery work.

About you

• You are technically strong, organised and calm.
• You are physically capable, practical and comfortable doing active cellar work throughout the year, not only supervising it.
• You are comfortable moving between vineyard observation and hands-on winery work, with enough vineyard literacy to recognise and communicate issues that affect wine quality.
• You enjoy the craft of tasting and blending, but also value records, systems, audit readiness, and follow-through.
• You can lead cellar people well and communicate wine clearly to internal teams, trade, media and wine club audiences.
• You have experience in premium still and sparkling wine production
• Compliance experience would be advantageous.

A competitive salary will be offered based on experience. Additional benefits may include vehicle or vehicle allowance, wine allowance / staff allocation, and professional development support, staff discount.

*We are accepting applications solely from individuals with unrestricted work rights in New Zealand. Due to the popularity of positions at Gibbston Valley Wines, only candidates who are shortlisted will be contacted.