Winemaking Intern - Benziger Family Winery

The Wine Group; Glen Ellen (CA); On-site; USD 27,552,000 - 38,573,000; Full time

Job summary

The Wine Group is offering an internship in winemaking across multiple California locations including Glen Ellen, Fresno, Ripon, Soledad and Woodbridge Winery. The program focuses on shadowing different roles from cellar to analytical labs, and participating in crush, sanitation and daily fermentation activities to develop leadership and practical wine production knowledge.

Interns will learn about wine specifications, tank management, and winemaking trials, while gaining exposure to compliance

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in or a recent graduate of an undergraduate program in Viticulture and Enology.
• Junior level or higher in coursework.
• GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Commit to at least six months of full-time work.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Internet and computer aptitude.

Responsibilities

• Shadow different roles within the facility to gain knowledge and understand practices, processes and leadership development.
• Learn lab procedures and identify wine specs for varietals in Analytical Lab.
• Participate in sanitation, crush supervision, tank management and daily fermenter tasting.
• Assist in writing work orders and closing completed orders under guidance of Winemaker.

Skills

MS Office

Communication

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Organization

Independence

Education

Viticulture & Enology

Tools

Microsoft Office

Internet

Computing basics

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the Winemaker, Intern Winemaking duties will vary with the intent to participate in the overall wine quality from grape to finished product while following sustainable TWG practices. The intern will be required to spend a given amount of time shadowing different roles within the facility to gain knowledge and understand practices, processes while developing leadership skills.

• Hiring for various locations in California including:
  • Fresno
  • Glen Ellen - Benziger Family Winery
  • Ripon
  • Soledad
  • Woodbridge Winery

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Shadow different roles within the facility to gain knowledge and understand practices, processes while developing leadership skills (e.g., Cellar, Compliance, Winemaking, and Analytical Lab)
• Analytical Lab: Given an opportunity to learn all the various lab procedures and should be able to identify wine specs for all the different varietals upon completion of this section. They will be required to pull tank samples which will aid in the learning of the tank farm.
• Sanitation: The intern required to participate in the overall sanitation of the facility prior to the season. This gives an opportunity to learn the basics behind the process prior to the start of crush. The intern will work closely with the cellar employees during the completion of this process, which will help develop a good working relationship prior to the season.
• Crush: During crush season the intern will be required to supervise all grape processing. This includes:
  • Ensuring that sanitation has been properly completed prior to the daily startup.
  • Responsible for the grape trucks from the test stand to the tanks. The intern will need to work closely with the crusher lead and operators to ensure nothing goes to the wrong tank.
  • Responsible for seeing that additions and circulations are completed on time and in the correct manner.
  • Responsible to see that tanks are drained/pressed at the right times based on directions from winemaking.
  • Participate in daily fermenter tasting and conduct tank walks twice per day.
  • Participate in and document all production scale winemaking trials.
  • There may be times when the intern may need to make decisions based on their winemaking knowledge. When doing this they need to use all the facts to support their decision
  • Upon the completion of crush, the intern will aid winemaking/cellar to ensure processing is conducted in the correct manner.
  • May be required to write work orders under the direction of the Winemaker.
  • Assist the winemaker and compliance in the process of closing completed work orders.
  • Stay up to date with all cellar processing.
  • Need to be able to answer questions about various states of processing when approached by others.
  • Participate in all benchtop trials as directed by winemaking (fining, blending, etc.)
  • Learn why and how each piece of equipment functions in the cellar. This will require that the intern spends time with each of the operators on the various pieces of equipment around the winery.
  • The intern will be required to provide a status report on the internship upon completion of each of the major tasks above.
• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for their job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be 21 years or older upon starting employment.
• Enrolled in or recent graduate of an undergraduate program in Viticulture and Enology
• Must be a college student or recent graduate, Junior Level in coursework, or above.
• Must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Must be able to commit to a minimum of six months of full-time work.
• Must be highly proficient in Microsoft Office, the Internet and computer aptitude.
• Excels at creative problem solving.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to determine the root cause of the problem.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills with attention to detail
• Prioritize while able to adapt to changing priorities.
• Ability work independently within set guidelines
• Demonstrated reliability and punctuality, work effectively in team/crew environment, adherence to all safety regulations and operating procedures.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Position will be exposed to indoor and outdoor environments with varying noise levels.
• Ability to perform tasks requiring bending, stooping, standing, and twisting in a production environment.
• Must be able to lift up to 50lbs occasionally.

COMPENSATION

• Hiring Hourly Rate Posted: $24.00/hour.

At The Wine Group, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristic protected by law.