Winemaker - Laughing Stock Vineyards
(Wine Jobs:
Vineyards & Cellars )
Full Time
Arterra Wines Canada
Penticton,
British Columbia
Job Description
Laughing Stock Vineyards is a boutique, 10,000 case winery located on the Naramata Bench in the Okanagan Valley. We are dedicated to producing handcrafted, super premium wines of quality and distinction. We produce primarily red wines and purposely keep our product line very focused.
The winemaker role is a key member of the leadership team and is responsible for creating a premium product from vineyard to bottle. The winemaker oversees the daily operations of production, from harvest to final blending and bottling. The role is also responsible for the quality and overall style of each wine.
The winemaker will report to existing Executive Winemaker/Founder, who has established the process and procedures that have proven repeatable and highly successful over the past 15 years, with a goal to assume full responsibility for winemaking a year or so out from start..
Key Roles:
• Lead winemaking duties including pressing, fermentation, racking, filtering, sensory analysis, lab analysis, blending and bottling.
• The lab can be VQA certified with the right incumbent and has a proper calibrated Oenofoss lab analysis unit. Prospective hire should be willing to continue this certification as well as be competent with the Oenofoss.
• Work to maintain an established, consistent wine making style with a goal to enhance quality incrementally from year to year.
• Supervise and coordinate the vineyard team in growing quality grapes consistent with the wine profiles targeted.
• Supervise, maintain training and motivate the winery production staff consisting of an assistant wine maker and cellar hand
• Assist in developing and manage operating budgets, wine costing budgets, and capital budgets to meet sales targets and operational goals.
• Research and order wine making supplies and winery products including managing supplier relationships.
• Plan, manage and oversee the bottling process to produce wines in a timely manner to meet market demand while maximizing wine quality.
• Be responsible and maintain on site storage of finished case goods for the tasting room sales throughout the season
• Ensuring a clean and safe workplace.
• Hire, train, schedule and supervise seasonal/occasional staff, as required.
Job Requirements
You must have:
• Post-secondary qualifications in wine making
• Experience with Bordeaux-style blends, Syrah, Viognier, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris
• Minimum 8 years’ wine making experience with 2+ years in management role
• Thorough viticulture knowledge to provide direction to vineyard team
• An entrepreneurial spirit and be a self-starter within a compact team
• Solid mechanical aptitude with a keen interest in problem solving when it comes to winery equipment and operations
• High attention to detail and ability to multi-task
• Sound computer knowledge and detail oriented record keeping complete with excellent excel skills
• A team player attitude and experience leading, teaching and managing direct reports
• A business and sales acumen to for fill the public role of wine maker when called upon
• Fork lift operator certificate and superb skills
You will need:
• To live in or close to the South Okanagan region.
• A salaried position and so be able to work evenings and weekends as required
• Available to accept the position in next 8 to 10 weeks with resume screening to begin in January of 2018