Wine & Viticulture Manager
(Wine Jobs:
Wine Retail & Sommelier)
Full Time
Pellegrini-Olivet Lane
Santa Rosa,
California
Job Description:
WINE & VITICULTURE MANAGER
COMPANY OVERVIEW
Pellegrini-Olivet Lane is an estate vineyard & winery, based in the heart of the Russian River Valley’s Santa Rosa Plain. The Pellegrini family are California wine pioneers, having been associated with every tier of the wine business since 1925 — as wine producers, growers, importers, and wholesale distributors. Originally planted in 1975, Olivet Lane has 60 planted vineyard acres, producing grapes for many renowned local wineries, as well as for our own boutique production under the Pellegrini-Olivet Lane brand. Built in 2000, our Tuscan-styled estate winery is situated along a grove of ancient olive trees, and shared with 2-3 other small producers.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Wine & Viticulture Manager is a key role responsible for leading our wine production & farming at our estate winery & vineyard. This hands-on role is both inside the winery and out in the field, handling day-to-day operations with boots on the ground. Provides leadership and supervision of cellar and vineyard personnel, reinforcing best practices and standards. As an integral part of our management team, our ideal candidate must embody the best characteristics of a responsible leader, with consistency, stability, and strong sense of organization.
We are a small team that works closely with owners. Let us know what your Sonoma County story is. Most importantly, we’d like to know more about your special skill sets and your ideal work situation. This position is perfect for a motivated and collaborative individual, who values our legacy and is ambitious to create one of their own.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Winemaking — Demonstrated experience in all facets of winemaking from crush to bottle, including lab analysis, record keeping, and knowledge of production equipment. Hands-on with production tasks, such as processing, cellar & lab work, and barrel maintenance. Develop and implement standard operating procedures for cellar operations, ensuring organization, cleanliness, and safety. Continually look to innovate winemaking and production and adapt to changing market conditions.
• Viticulture — Oversees daily farming operations, ensuring optimal vine health & fruit development throughout the growing season. Develop and implement nutrition programs and validate results through petiole analysis and other diagnostic processes. Collect data including phenology recording, sampling, pest monitoring and crop estimating. Identify potential vine and soil health issues & implement corrective measures. Oversee spray and fertilizer program. Knowledge of sustainable, organic, and regenerative vineyard practices.
• Vineyard Management — Experience in all seasons of vineyard operations and farming practices for high-end grapes. Direct in-house and contracted vineyard crews. Annual schedule and budget. Pruning, training, and canopy management. Irrigation, frost, drainage, mowing, and cultivation. Custom farming for top-tier evergreen contracts. Guide replanting projects and long-term grape production plan. Work side by side as necessary, ensuring orders are carried out as directed and results are documented. Training and oversight of personnel development. Implements safety training programs and proper PPE.
• Property & Equipment Maintenance — Oversee maintenance of property and equipment. Experience operating and maintaining tractors, implements, pumps, and irrigation systems, and can assist in setting maintenance schedules and scheduling repairs. Inspects for unsafe or malfunctioning conditions. Identify, cost out, and delegate projects. Coordinates major repairs with outside vendors.
• Database & Reporting — Maintains accurate and timely analysis of databases. Works with Accounting and Compliance to ensure compliance reporting and quarterly costing is timely and accurate. Familiar with production and marketing regulations. Collaborate on planning and budgeting, implementation, and managing cost inputs.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Degree in Viticulture & Enology, Agriculture Management, Agronomy, or similar.
• 5+ years of experience within a winery / vineyard environment.
• Passionate about hands-on winemaking and farming.
• Drives tractors, forklifts, scissor lifts, stick shift, and other vehicles as necessary.
• Mechanical & operational experience.
• Budget management and costing.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Computer proficient; PC/Excel/Word.
• Outstanding problem-solving, analytical, and project management skills; able to manage priorities and workflow.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to keep clear and accurate records.
• Self-motivated, confident, decisive, and collaborative in approach.
• Working Spanish. Fluent a plus.
• QAL/PCA certified or working towards certification.
• 21+ years old.
• Valid California driver’s license and insurable.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 60 lbs.
• Able to handle physical farm activities including, but not limited to, negotiating uneven terrain, working in all weather conditions, able to easily bend, twist, and stand for long periods.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• Full Time
• Medical / Dental / Vision
• 401k
• Compensation: 80-110K annual DOE.
• State date: January 2025
