Senior Viticulturist: Drive Premium Vineyard Quality

Placements24; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary tied to performance

Health & retirement cover

Generous annual leave & holidays

Travel opportunities to industryevents

Access to research facilities

Job summary

Placements24 in Stellenbosch seeks a Senior Viticulturist to lead vineyard operations, directing strategic planning and day-to-day management for premium grape production. You will work closely with winemakers and estate management to ensure top quality and healthy vines.

The role emphasizes strong leadership, deep viticulture knowledge, and data-driven decisions to optimize yield and grape quality, with opportunities for international travel to industry events.

Qualifications

• Masters/PhD in Viticulture, Agronomy, Soil Science or closely related field.
• 10+ years progressive vineyard management experience in high-quality wine production.

Responsibilities

• Develop long-term strategic plans for vineyard development and block planning.
• Oversee canopy management, irrigation, nutrition, and pest/disease control for premium quality grapes.
• Implement sustainable viticulture practices including cover crops and water conservation.
• Manage vineyard staff with training, supervision and safety compliance.
• Collaborate with winemaking to meet grape quality and ripeness targets.
• Conduct trials evaluating clones, rootstocks and vineyard tech to boost quality and resilience.

Skills

Vineyard Management

Strategic Planning

Team Leadership

Data Analysis

Viticulture Expertise

Education

Master's or PhD in Viticulture / Agronomy / Soil Science

Tools

GIS

Soil Analysis Software

Job description

Placements24 in Stellenbosch seeks a Senior Viticulturist to lead vineyard operations, directing strategic planning and day-to-day management for premium grape production. You will work closely with winemakers and estate management to ensure top quality and healthy vines.

The role emphasizes strong leadership, deep viticulture knowledge, and data-driven decisions to optimize yield and grape quality, with opportunities for international travel to industry events.