Assistant Winemaker (Wine Jobs: Vineyards & Cellars )

  Benjamin Bridge Vineyards (http://www.benjaminbridge.com)

  1842 White Rock Rd, Wolfville, Nova Scotia

 

Benjamin Bridge VIneyards is Nova Scotia's ultra premium sparkling wine house. We are looking for an assistant winemaker that is a graduate of a post-secondary winemaking program and has at least 3 years experience. The permanent position is available full time, beginning Fall 2014.

This position of assistant winemaker is a supervisory position. While the head winemaker will guide all winemaking at the winery, the assistant winemaker will exercise independence with regards to his winemaking duties and is responsible for successfully executing the daily operations of the winery, including meeting production requirements and managing inventory control.  The assistant winemaker will co-ordinate with vineyard manager and external growers for the procurement of grapes. The assistant winemaker will also assist in the coordination of harvest and liaise with the head winemaker and vineyard manager, who manage planting programs and the cultivation and production of grapes, to determine harvest timing. In addition, the assistant winemaker will supervise  (including training, safety procedures, and company policies) and evaluate the winery staff and make recommendations to the head winemaker with regards to hiring and promotions.

Other key responsibilities related to winery operations and production include:

• Organizing the crushing and pressing of grapes, the settling of juice, and the fermentation of grape material;

• Supervising vineyard/cellar personnel involved in the production of wine;

• Assisting the head winemaker in preparing a logistical bottling plan and supervising a manual and/or automated bottling line;

• Assisting in the preparation of wines prior to bottling by assisting in tasting, blending, fining, filtration and laboratory testing and participate in procedures;

• Monitoring and maintaining cleanliness of the winery and ensuring regular maintenance of equipment;

• Ensuring cellar and vineyard personnel observe health and safety procedures;

• Maintaining written procedures for cellar operations, equipment operation, and safety

training; and

• Generating and maintaining written records of grape harvest. 

The assistant winemaker will be particularly involved in conducting all laboratory testing to monitor the quality of wine. This includes examining grape samples, musts and wines to monitor the quality of processing and to ascertain the presence and extent of such factors as sugar, acid content and ripeness. The assistant winemaker will coordinate the testing and crushing of grapes, fermenting juice, and finishing of wine, including, cooling and filtering. Other key laboratory responsibilities include:

• Appropriately calibrating and standardizing all equipment and lab chemicals;

• Preparing bench-scale trials, microbiology and sensory evaluations; and;

• Communicating any “out of range” results to the cellar lead and winemaking team.

Salary: $35,000-40,000 CAD (commensurate with experience). Three weeks paid vacation and five paid sick days. Group medical insurance, including health, dental and disability.

How To Apply

Email: [email protected] Fax: 902-542-1667 Mail: 1842 White Rock Rd, RR 1 Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R1

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