Harvest Lab Technician
(Wine Jobs:
Vineyards & Cellars )
Full Time
MacRostie Winery & Vineyards
Sonoma, Healdsburg,
California
MacRostie Winery has been crafting fine wines since 1987. MacRostie is known for vineyard driven style Pinot Noir and Chardonnay which the winemaking team captures by using a hands on approach in the vineyard and small lot fermentations in the cellar.
We are looking for two lab interns to join our dynamic winemaking team during the 2018 Harvest. We have two facilities, one located southeast of the town of Sonoma, CA and one located in Healdsburg, CA.
Healdsburg Lab Internship:
This will include vineyard sampling and sample processing in the lab for our Northern Sonoma County Vineyards. Harvest Lab duties include daily Brix and Temp checks, incoming Harvest juice analysis, sample collection, data entry, and work order entry using VinTrace data management software.
When these lab tasks are complete, time would then be spent in the cellar doing wine work.
Tasks specific to these roles inlcude:
- Vineyard sampling (use of your own car required)
- Vineyard sample processing and analysis (TA, pH, Brix using DMA)
- Incoming juice analysis (Brix, TA, pH, Buffer Capacity)
- Fermentation monitoring (Brix and Temp using DMA)
- Data Entry using Excel and VinTrace
- Cellar Activities would work closely with the production staff in carrying out a variety of hands-on winemaking tasks, including (not limited too):
1. Sanitation of all winery equipment
2. Punch downs of red fermentations
3. Inoculations and additions
4. Operate crush equipment and press
5. Racking juice
6. Filling, topping, and stirring barrels
These daily tasks will be performed around a core of cleaning duties, preceded and followed by more cleaning; wash, rinse, repeat.
Sonoma Lab Internship:
This will include vineyard sampling and sample processing in the lab as direct support for our Enologist. This includes daily Brix and Temp checks, incoming harvest juice analysis, sample collection, and data entry.
When these lab tasks are complete, time would then be spent in the cellar doing wine work.
Tasks specific to these roles are the following:
- Vineyard sampling (use of your own car required)
- Vineyard sample processing and analysis (TA, pH, Brix using DMA)
- Incoming juice analysis (Brix, TA, pH, Buffer Capacity, Malic Acid & YAN (enzymatic analysis)
- Fermentation monitoring (Brix and Temp using DMA)
- Data Entry using Excel and VinTrace
- Cellar Activities would work closely with the production staff in carrying out a variety of hands-on winemaking tasks, including (not limited too):
1. Sanitation of all winery equipment
2. Punch downs of red fermentations
3. Inoculations and additions
4. Operate crush equipment and press
5. Racking juice
6. Filling, topping, and stirring barrels
These daily tasks will be performed around a core of cleaning duties, preceded and followed by more cleaning; wash, rinse, repeat.
Qualifications/Requirements:
We are looking for people with a passion for wine and great enthusiasm for crafting wines of exceptional quality. Due to the dual locations of our production and vineyards ideal candidates would have the flexibility to work at either one of our facilities throughout the harvest period depending on work load. This also provides the opportunity to be intimately involved in both our premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir production.
The ideal candidate will have prior harvest experience, but enthusiastic applicants without direct cellar experience are encouraged to apply. What we do require, above all else, is a positive attitude. Additional job requirements include keen attention to detail, sense of urgency, effective communication skills, dependability, ability to work well within a team, willingness to work hard, get dirty and wet, clean scrupulously, and have fun while doing so.
- Science degree or previous lab experience is preferred
- Experience with Excel
- Experience with VinTrace Data Management System
- Has own car to use for vineyard sampling
- Works well in a team setting
- Knowledge of basic cellar procedures
- Attention to detail
- Must be able to lift and carry 50lbs and stand for long periods of time, able to work long hours at peak times
Applicants should be prepared to work a variable schedule and extended hours, including overtime, weekends, and holidays. The estimated timeframe for this position is from the beginning of August through the harvest season (typically end of October). There is potential for one or two positions to stay on longer to finish up wine work and clean up equipment/winery post-harvest.
Interested parties please email cover letter and copy of resume
(No drop-ins or phone calls, please)
Non-U.S. citizens must secure a J-1 Visa.
