Vineyard Horticulturist: Elevate Grape Quality

Placements24; Mossel Bay; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing or housing allowance

Comprehensive health insurance

WSET wine education

Bonus potential based on grape quality

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Horticulturist to manage commercial vineyards in Mossel Bay, Western Cape. You will guide soil preparation, planting, canopy management, and harvest to produce high-quality grapes for the wine industry, applying viticulture techniques with a focus on sustainability.

Based on field operations, you will supervise pruning, trellising, irrigation, disease and pest control, harvest timing, and data recording, collaborating with the vineyard team to optimize

Qualifications

• Degree in Horticulture, Viticulture, Agronomy, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in commercial vineyard management.
• Strong understanding of grapevine physiology, pest and disease management, and irrigation techniques.
• Ability to work in a team and manage seasonal labor.
• Proficiency in vineyard mapping and data recording software is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute detailed vineyard management plans, including pruning, trellising, and shoot thinning.
• Monitor vine health, identify diseases and pests, and implement appropriate control measures using IPM strategies.
• Manage irrigation systems to ensure optimal water delivery based on vine needs and environmental conditions.
• Oversee harvesting operations, ensuring grapes are picked at the optimal stage of maturity and handled with care.
• Conduct soil and tissue analysis to inform nutrient management programs.
• Maintain detailed records of vineyard activities, inputs, yields, and grape quality metrics.

Skills

Vineyard management

IPM knowledge

Irrigation management

Team coordination

Harvest coordination

Education

Degree in Horticulture/Viticulture/Agronomy

Tools

Vineyard mapping software

Job description

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Horticulturist to manage commercial vineyards in Mossel Bay, Western Cape. You will guide soil preparation, planting, canopy management, and harvest to produce high-quality grapes for the wine industry, applying viticulture techniques with a focus on sustainability.

Based on field operations, you will supervise pruning, trellising, irrigation, disease and pest control, harvest timing, and data recording, collaborating with the vineyard team to optimize