Senior Viticulturist & Vineyard Manager

Placements24; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 450,000 - 700,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement planning

Performance bonuses

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Viticulturist based near Paarl in the Western Cape to manage premium vineyards for a renowned wine estate. You will drive cultivar knowledge, soil health, pest management, and efficient irrigation while leading a team of vineyard staff.

Responsibilities include planning harvests, coordinating with winemaking, maintaining records, and ensuring regulatory and quality standards are met.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Viticulture, Horticulture, Agronomy, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of vineyard management experience with high-quality grape production.
• In-depth knowledge of grape varieties, soils, climate impacts, and vineyard design.
• Strong pest, disease, and weed control methods in viticulture.
• Experience with irrigation management and nutrient analysis.
• Excellent leadership, team management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of vineyard management from soil prep to harvest.
• Develop plans to optimize grape quality, yield and vineyard longevity.
• Monitor vineyard health including IPM for pests and diseases.
• Manage irrigation to meet vine water needs and conditions.
• Record vineyard inputs, yields and quality assessments.
• Supervise and train vineyard staff and ensure safety compliance.
• Coordinate harvest operations and align practices with winemaking goals.
• Collaborate with the winemaking team on style and quality targets.

Skills

Vineyard management

IPM (Integrated Pest Management)

Irrigation management

Soil & leaf analysis

Staff supervision

Team leadership

Communication

Vineyard software

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Viticulture/Horticulture/Agronomy

Tools

Vineyard management software

MS Office

Job description

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Viticulturist based near Paarl in the Western Cape to manage premium vineyards for a renowned wine estate. You will drive cultivar knowledge, soil health, pest management, and efficient irrigation while leading a team of vineyard staff.

Responsibilities include planning harvests, coordinating with winemaking, maintaining records, and ensuring regulatory and quality standards are met.