Assistant Winemaker — Craft & Harvest in a Fast-Paced Cellar

wine.co.za; Rawsonville; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Merwida Winery in the Breede River Valley near Rawsonville is seeking an Assistant Winemaker to join the cellar team. You will work closely with the Winemaker, supporting all cellar operations in a fast-paced environment.

The role focuses on winemaking processes, harvest coordination, quality compliance (FSSC22000, ISO, HACCP, BRC), and adherence to accreditations (IPW, SAWIS) and WIETA audits. You will manage inventory and ensure safety and hygiene across the cellar.

Qualifications

• A relevant qualification in Viticulture and Oenology.
• 3–5 years' production cellar experience.
• Sound knowledge of cellar operations and winemaking processes.
• Good understanding of food safety and quality management systems.
• Proficiency with WineMS, SAWIS and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the winemaking process as part of the cellar team.
• Coordinate harvest activities and cellar operations.
• Ensure compliance with quality standards (FSSC22000, ISO, HACCP, BRC) and accreditations (IPW, SAWIS).
• Support inventory management and product administration.
• Maintain cellar hygiene, health & safety standards and equipment maintenance.
• Assist with cellar staff management and other related tasks.

Skills

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Cellar operations knowledge

Food safety knowledge

Computer literacy

Education

Viticulture and Oenology qualification

Tools

WineMS

SAWIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Merwida Winery in the Breede River Valley near Rawsonville is seeking an Assistant Winemaker to join the cellar team. You will work closely with the Winemaker, supporting all cellar operations in a fast-paced environment.

The role focuses on winemaking processes, harvest coordination, quality compliance (FSSC22000, ISO, HACCP, BRC), and adherence to accreditations (IPW, SAWIS) and WIETA audits. You will manage inventory and ensure safety and hygiene across the cellar.