Senior Viticulturist
(Wine Jobs:
Vineyards & Cellars )
Full Time
West Kelowna,
British Columbia
At Quails’ Gate, we believe great wine starts in great vineyards. As a company committed to cultivating a sustainable future, we are pleased to have our vineyards certified by Sustainable Winegrowing B.C. In addition to their prime location and ideal soil composition, our vineyards are meticulously managed and crop yields are kept low to ensure premium quality. All our grapes are hand-harvested to maintain grape integrity.
Our grapes aren’t the only thing we hand pick
Utilizing a forward-thinking approach, the Sr. Viticulturist will lead the vineyard team and develop/implement policy and procedures and advise/direct on technical and operational viticulture matter for all owned and leased vineyards in the Okanagan Valley. This function will have the expressed purpose of maximizing sustainable yield and fruit quality, ensuring compliance with company standards and maintaining a high level of vine health and vineyard integrity.
Management of Team
- Responsible for training viticultural technicians/vineyard assistants for internal and external vineyards and grower relations
- Lead, develop and manage a high-performance team based on Quails’ Gate core values
- Coach develop and mentor team members, so they are actively engaged in achieving their potential and are energized and connected with Quail’s Gate Vision.
- Along with HR, develop and implement learning programs across the department.
- Provide support to the vineyard management staff by ensuring they adhere to all regulatory record keeping requirements
- Provide hands on support to the vineyard team when required
- Building and maintaining a culture of health and safety within the team and ensure that any issues that arise are identified, addressed and where required, notified to the VP of Operations or designate.
- Ensuring that Health and Safety policies are met and where possible, exceeded
- Provide support for the Vineyard Assistant’s and Irrigation specialist to promote and adhere to all tasks and record keeping requirements of Sustainable winegrowing programs, Continuous Improvement programs and safety training
Vineyard Management
- Responsible for the creation and implementation of a schedule to monitor individual block performance and highlight issues.
- Provide structure and process to viticulture record keeping programs across internal and external supply. Ensuring the rights process is used, data is entered correctly and up to date.
- Manage tasks such as harvest maturity sampling, soil testing, fertilizer application, tissue testing, yield estimates, long term block history, etc. across internal and external vineyards.
- Assist in maintaining vineyard experiments, gathering data, and designing new ones.
- Coordinate/Assist in managing the spray program. This may include writing work orders, ensure adherence to spray intervals, scheduling equipment, purchasing materials, communicating with neighbours and winemakers regarding re-entry intervals.
- Work with senior management to produce the Annual Vineyard Management Plan with input from assistant Vineyard Managers to ensure best practice utilized
- Efficiently manage equipment to ensure that it is maintained to the highest standards for the operation
- function , cleanliness and free from repair.
- Financial Responsibility – Establish and achieve operational and financial goals using procedures for PO’s and procurement practices to achieve vineyard costs, control expenses and plan for labour usage.
- Work with the CFO to annually develop a comprehensive budget. Review and report on the departments performance and meet financial goals that ensure grape costs per ton are meet without compromise.
Education & Research
- Develop strong relationships with universities professors, BCWGC and farm advisors who focus on vineyards and in addition, spends time understanding other crops in the area and the issues involved environmentally, labour, economics, and pests.
- Participate in continuing education programs and research within the wine industry and agricultural industry to enhance expertise
- Attend wine industry and other ag events within the region and country to have a better understanding of issues facing the industry and Quails Gate Winery
- Participate in local farm groups, sustainability & organic organizations, and nursery meetings
- Work with CEO/tasting committee to improve grape quality standards
Relationships with Growers
- Provides advice to growers about vinicultural issues in grower vineyards. Develop a program to monitor and evaluate grower viticulture practices relating to yield, quality, and sustainability/organic farming.
- Sources and works with growers, winemaking & grape allocation for Spot market grape purchases and contract management.
Experience/Requirements
- BS. in Viticulture or related field
- Viticulture experience; 6-10 years preferably with multiple vineyard site owners
- Technical Viticulture knowledge
- Strong verbal/written communication skills in English
- Computer knowledge- Microsoft Office
- Systems and technology literate
- Well-developed people skills
- Good interpersonal skills – great communicator
- Time Management and planning skills
- PCA license is an asset
- Ability work outdoors
Competitive Base Salary + Annual Incentive Plan + Company Vehicle + RRSP Matching + Product Allowance + Extended Health & Dental Benefits
