Cellar Technician

Vendimia North Ltd. provides technical and practical winemaking solutions to select wineries in the Niagara region. Owned and run by Fred DiProfio, who’s 25+ year career as an award-winning winemaker produces some of Ontario’s best wines. Our current clientele includes Bella Terra Vineyards, Amo Vineyards, and Fred Wines. Each vintage we crush approximately 600 tonnes of fruit spread across all clients. We embrace modern technologies with traditional techniques that allow us to create unique wines that reflect their own sense of place.

We are currently seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Cellar Technician to join our small team of consulting Winemakers. This position is full-time, year-round, with extended hours during the harvest season. As a member of our winemaking team, you can expect to participate in all aspects of winemaking: fruit receival, inoculations and fermentation management, barrel tasks, blend decisions, filtration, and equipment maintenance. The ideal candidate must have a passion for wine and take pride in always maintaining a safe, clean, and organised cellar.

Key Responsibilities

• Adhere to winery and equipment sanitation requirements.
• Record keeping
• Grape processing: receival and recording, sorting, destemming, additions, and pressing.
• Juice and wine racking, transfers, blending, and additions.
• Fermentation monitoring, punch downs and pump overs
• Equipment operation and maintenance: several styles of pumps, filters, automated fermentation tanks
• Barrel work: emptying, filling, cleaning, and topping.
• Lab work: pH and TA, alcohol by distillation, free and total SO2, heat stability etc.

Qualifications

• Degree or Diploma in winemaking or related science field
• Have worked 1 – 3 harvests or 1 year in a cellar.
• Dependable and hardworking
• Strong attention to detail
• Critical thinker
• Committed to quality standards.
• Must be able to multitask.
• Must be willing to work long and sometimes irregular hours.
• Able to lift 55lbs.
• Must be eligible to work in Canada.
• Must have a valid driver’s licence and own transportation.
• Must be able to operate a forklift.