Cellar Hand

Big Head Wines – Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

Big Head Wines is seeking a Cellar Hand to join our production team in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

This is a hands-on position working closely with winemaker Andrzej Lipinski, assisting in all aspects of cellar operations and harvest. The role provides exposure to a wide range of winemaking techniques in a small, quality-focused production environment and is intended as a development pathway toward Cellar Master for the right candidate.

Big Head Wines is a family-owned winery producing small-lot wines using techniques such as wild fermentation, carbonic maceration, botrytis selection, and appassimento, with a strong focus on precision and vineyard expression.

Responsibilities

• Execute all cellar operations including transfers, racking, pump-overs, punch-downs, filtration, blending preparation, and barrel work
• Assist with fermentation monitoring and general wine management
• Participate in all harvest activities including grape receiving, sorting, crushing, destemming, and pressing
• Perform routine laboratory analysis including Brix, pH, TA, and SO₂
• Maintain accurate records of cellar activities, wine movements, and additions
• Execute sanitation protocols for tanks, barrels, hoses, and cellar equipment
• Safely operate winery equipment and follow all production safety procedures
• Assist with inventory management of barrels, tanks, dry goods, and cellar supplies
• Assist with vineyard operations as required, including tractor operation, trellis maintenance and repair, deployment and monitoring of bird deterrents, mowing, weed trimming, and general vineyard maintenance

Compensation

$22 – $26 per hour, depending on experience.

Location

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

To Apply

Please send a resume and a brief introduction outlining your interest in the role to:

jobs@bigheadwines.ca