Vineyard Manager

Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards
Location: Wolfville, Nova Scotia

About Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards

Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards is a family-owned, certified organic and biodynamic winery located in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley. Our mission is to produce wines of exceptional quality that express the distinctive character of our cool, coastal climate and living soils, while farming in a way that regenerates the land for future generations.

We steward 50 acres of estate vineyards planted to both classic vinifera and cool-climate hybrid varieties well suited to our maritime growing conditions. Our farming philosophy prioritizes long-term vineyard health, balance, and site expression. Alongside wine production, our year-round hospitality destination welcomes visitors from around the world to experience our wines and farm-to-table culinary offerings. We are a collaborative, values-driven team dedicated to innovation, continuous learning, and excellence in cool-climate winegrowing.

Position Overview

The Vineyard Manager is responsible for leading the development and execution of Lightfoot & Wolfville’s vineyard management strategy to achieve the highest standards of fruit quality, vine health, and sustainable production across both vinifera and hybrid plantings.

Working closely with ownership, finance, and the winemaking team, this role oversees daily vineyard operations, staff leadership, organic and biodynamic compliance, and long-term soil and plant health programs, while managing and delivering results within established budgets and financial targets.

This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong technical knowledge, operational management skills, sound financial stewardship, and a commitment to regenerative agriculture and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations of certified organic and biodynamic vineyards to achieve targets for fruit quality, plant health, and production.
• Develop and execute vineyard management plans in collaboration with ownership, winemaking team, and finance.
• Monitor vine phenology and implement operations aligned with vine development stages.
• Monitor and maintain vine and fruit health to ensure quality and integrity of vineyard assets.
• Coordinate and oversee harvest operations with seasonal teams and collaborate with the winemaking team on fruit quality objectives.
• Develop and implement soil health programs including cover cropping, composting, and vineyard nutrition management.
• Ensure vineyard facilities, storage areas, and workspaces are safe, organized, and properly maintained.
• Oversee operation and maintenance of vineyard machinery, equipment, tractors, and implements.
• Recruit, supervise, train, and develop vineyard staff and seasonal employees.
• Ensure team understanding and proper execution of organic and biodynamic farming practices.
• Conduct performance reviews and support staff development.
• Foster a safe, collaborative, and high-performing work environment.
• Prepare and manage the annual vineyard budget and monitor expenses.
• Conduct quarterly financial reviews with the Chief Financial Officer.
• Maintain accurate production, environmental, and certification records.
• Provide regular reporting, analysis, and recommendations to ownership and management.
• Commit to continuous learning and professional growth in viticulture and regenerative agriculture.
• Engage with industry best practices and emerging technologies, particularly as they relate to cool-climate and hybrid viticulture.

Organic Certification & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with organic and biodynamic standards, including Ecocert and Demeter certification requirements.
• Maintain required documentation and certification records.
• Ensure compliance with quality, environmental, and workplace safety regulations.
• Maintain required certifications including pesticide safety, first aid, and equipment operation as applicable.

Grower Relations & Industry Engagement

• Maintain strong relationships with regional grape growers, including growers of hybrid and vinifera varieties.
• Coordinate grower agreements, quality standards, and purchasing requirements in collaboration with winemaking team, ownership, and finance.
• Represent Lightfoot & Wolfville at industry events, tastings, and promotional activities.
• Support vineyard tours and educational experiences for guests and partners.

Performance Expectations

• Vineyard operations executed in accordance with company standards and regulatory requirements.
• Weekly vineyard scouting and reporting during the growing season.
• Accurate and timely record keeping and reporting.
• Effective coordination with winemaking, production, and hospitality teams.
• Strong stewardship of company assets, equipment, and vineyard resources.
• Positive professional relationships with industry partners and stakeholders.