Winemaking Intern - Ripon

Benziger; Ripon (CA); Hybrid; USD 27,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hourly pay

Shadowing opportunities

Job summary

The Wine Group is offering an internship in winemaking at locations across California. You will shadow multiple roles—from cellar to analytical lab—gaining hands-on experience in sanitation, grape processing, and production trials while developing leadership abilities.

The program emphasizes learning, teamwork, and adherence to safety regulations. A six-month full-time commitment is required for emerging professionals in viticulture and enology.

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years or older prior to start.
• Enrolled in or recent graduate of Viticulture and Enology program.
• College student or recent graduate, junior level or above.

Responsibilities

• Shadow different roles within the facility to learn practices and processes.
• Learn lab procedures and identify wine specs for varietals.
• Assist with sanitation prior to the season and collaborate with cellar staff.
• Assist during crush season in grape processing and tank management.
• Attend daily fermenter tastings and document production trials.
• Provide status updates on internship tasks upon completion.

Skills

MS Office

Problem solving

Communication

Attention to detail

Organization

Teamwork

Safety procedures

Education

Viticulture & Enology program

Undergraduate student or recent grad

GPA 3.0+

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.