Assistant Winemaker

Join the Team at Fort Berens Estate Winery

Fort Berens Estate Winery is seeking a passionate Assistant Winemaker to contribute across cellar, vineyard, and tasting room operations as seasonal demands shift throughout the year. This is a full-time position (40 hours/week), with extended hours required during harvest (approximately September–November). This is a unique opportunity to be involved in all areas of the business and learn the entire winemaking process from farming the grapes to selling the wines produced, from grape to glass. We’re a small team and you'll work closely with our passionate team and report directly to the winemaker. We believe that it’s important to be sustainable throughout our entire organization, from our vineyards all the way to the bottle and so since 2025 we are proudly certified sustainable in both our vineyard and winery with SWBC.

About Us

Nestled on the benchlands along the Fraser River at the base of the Coast Mountains, Fort Berens is Lillooet’s first winery. Our 37 acres of vineyard with 8 varieties are rooted in sandy soils under arid summer skies, producing premium grapes that are handcrafted into award-winning wines. Our modern winery and tasting room offer breathtaking vistas and reflect our deep connection to the land. We are committed to authenticity, learning, and inclusion in all that we do. If you are looking for a rural community with strong ties to the land, small agricultural producers, and endless opportunities to get out and explore nature then this role might be for you!

What You'll Do 

This dynamic role is ideal for a candidate looking to be involved in all areas of our operations. As our assistant winemaker, you'll work and learn in the winery during harvest and throughout the year. You’ll be pruning the vines in the winter and spring and working in the Tasting Room as a sales associate during part of the summer. Responsibilities include: 

• All harvest activities including grape receiving, processing, fermentation monitoring, additions, and inoculations 
• Barrel work, including racking, transferring, blending support, and maintenance 
• Accurate recordkeeping and compliance with safety and sanitation standards 
• Operation of cellar equipment, including forklifts 
• Support sustainability certification and improvement initiatives 
• Vineyard work, including pruning, sampling, scouting, monitoring, and other fieldwork as needed, around 3 months per year 
• Tasting Room sales, leading educational wine tastings, delivering high-level hospitality, promoting wine club memberships, around 3 months per year 
• Representing the winery at public events