Enologist

Testarossa Vineyards, LLC; Los Gatos (CA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Vacation accrual

Sick days

Health insurance

401(k) match

FSAs

Wine discounts

Long Term Disability

EAP

Referral program

Work environment

Job summary

Testarossa Vineyards, LLC in California is seeking an Enologist to join the winemaking team and contribute from harvest to bottling. You will support cellar operations, participate in harvest, perform lab analysis, and assist with bottling while helping maintain quality and traceability.

You’ll work in a fast-paced production environment with a collaborative team, bringing strong attention to detail and proactive, self-motivated work ethic. Experience with bottling and forklift is required.

Qualifications

• Degree in Winemaking, Enology, Viticulture, Food Science, Chemistry, or related field.
• 3+ years of winemaking experience including hands-on cellar experience.
• Experience with bottling preparation and bottling line operations.
• Proficient cellar experience including harvest/crush operations, filtration, additions and barrel work.
• Forklift certification or experience; certification on hire.
• Attention to detail with good written and verbal communication.
• Ability to work in a team and stay self-motivated in a fast-paced production environment.

Responsibilities

• Support year-round wine production and cellar operations including transfers, racking, pump-overs, filtration, additions, topping, barrel work, sanitation, and movements.
• Participate in harvest and crush operations including fruit processing, pressing, fermentation monitoring, tank work, and sanitation.
• Perform laboratory analysis and quality-control checks and maintain accurate production and traceability records.
• Prepare wines for bottling, blending, filtration, stabilization, and other pre-bottling activities.
• Assist with and operate the bottling line including equipment setup, sanitation, packaging prep, line checks, QC and documentation.
• Safely operate a forklift and movement of wine, packaging, pallets, and production materials.
• Maintain clean, organized, sanitary, and safe cellar, laboratory, bottling, and warehouse areas.
• Work independently and proactively while adapting to changing production priorities and supporting the Assistant Winemaker.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the winery to support quality, production, and business goals.

Skills

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Written and verbal communication

Proactive

Multi-tasking

Education

Degree in Winemaking/Enology/Viticulture/related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Innovent database

Job description

Description

Join the Testarossa Winemaking Team

Testarossa Winery is a premier producer of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, recognized for quality and consistency with more than 1,900 90+ wine review scores. We’re looking for a talented, hands-on Enologist to join our winemaking team and play an integral role in producing our wines from harvest through bottling while also supporting warehouse operations.

This is an opportunity to work alongside an experienced and collaborative winemaking team in a fast-paced production environment. The ideal candidate brings strong cellar and bottling experience, excellent attention to detail, a proactive work ethic, and a genuine passion for producing exceptional wine.

Benefits we offer!

• 10 paid holidays per year
• Accrual of up to 2-3 weeks of vacation per year
• Accrual of up to 8+ sick days per year
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance (Testarossa covers 80% of the monthly premium!)
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a match!
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical & Dependent Care)
• 50% off wines and many more winery discounts!
• Long Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee Referral Program
• A beautiful historic work environment with passionate and fun colleagues!

What the Enologist does!

As an Enologist, you’ll be an integral member of our small winemaking team. Working within the cellars or warehouse to:

• Support year-round wine production and skilled cellar operations, including transfers, racking, pump-overs, filtration, additions, topping, barrel work, sanitation, and wine movements.
• Participate in harvest and crush operations, including fruit processing, pressing, fermentation monitoring, tank work, and sanitation.
• Perform laboratory analysis and quality-control checks and maintain accurate production and traceability records.
• Prepare wines for bottling, blending, filtration, stabilization, and other pre-bottling activities.
• Assist with and operate the bottling line, including equipment setup, sanitation, packaging preparation, line checks, QC, and documentation.
• Safely operate a forklift and other material-handling equipment to move wine, packaging, pallets, and production materials.
• Maintain clean, organized, sanitary, and safe cellar, laboratory, bottling, and warehouse areas.
• Work independently and proactively while adapting to changing production priorities and supporting the Assistant Winemaker and broader winemaking team.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the winery to support quality, production, and business goals

Requirements

• Degree in Winemaking, Enology, Viticulture, Food Science, Chemistry, or related field required.
• 3+ years of winemaking experience, including hands-on cellar experience.
• Demonstrated experience with bottling preparation and bottling line operations required.
• Skilled cellar experience, including harvest/crush operations, wine movements, filtration, additions, sanitation, and barrel work.
• Forklift certification or demonstrated experience operating forklifts; certification required upon hire.
• Respirator Certification upon hire.
• Attention to detail with excellent written and verbal communication.
• Ability to work positively and effectively in a team while staying self-motivated, proactive and producte while working independently for extended periods of time.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced production environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Innovent data base.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and extended shifts during harvest and bottling as required.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. occasionally.
• Ability to stand, walk, and climb stairs for a majority of each shift.
• Ability to perform tasks requiring reaching, grasping, bending, stooping, standing, twisting, pushing, and pulling in the performance of various tasks in a production, cellar, bottling, warehouse and laboratory environment.
• Ability to safely operate a forklift and other production/material-handling equipment.
• Ability to work around wine production equipment, machinery, chemicals, cleaning agents, and other production materials while following all required safety procedures.
• Work is typically performed in laboratory, cellar, barrel room, bottling, warehouse, or outdoor environments in varying weather conditions and temperatures.
• Ability to work in wet, damp, cold, hot, and noisy production environments.
• Ability to work extended hours and weekends during harvest, bottling, and other peak production periods as required.