TITLE: WINEMAKER
REPORTS TO: COO/CFO and President
JOB LOCATION: MERRYVALE WINERY, ST. HELENA, CA
STATUS: SALARIED/EXEMPT

GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION


WINEMAKING RESPONSIBILITIES (35%)
•  As the leader of the winemaking team, participates and conducts sensory evaluation, vineyard evaluation, barrel evaluations, and blending and finishing trials
•  Works closely with the consulting winemaker to implement winemaking techniques and protocols
•  Works closely with the cellar team to conduct, monitor and track winemaking experiments, and schedules routine tasting of wines for quality control and sensory evaluation.
•  During harvest, directly manages the grape processing and fermentation activities
o Manages the daily grape intake and harvest cellar
o Supervises juice and wine additions
o Oversees fermentation analysis for quality control and correction of potential issues
•  Monitors fermentations by sensory evaluation and analytical analysis
•  Monitors malolactic fermentations and analysis
•  Monitors wine ageing through analytical review and sensory evaluation. Identifies potential problems or opportunities and makes recommendations to management.
•  Works with the Consulting winemaker on all barrel purchases

GENERAL SUPERVISION AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES (20%)
•  Oversees daily winery cellar operations at Merryvale, including harvest, cellar and bottling preparation.
•  Manages bulk wine inventory at winery, and reviews monthly TTB 702 report. Forwards completed 702 to the Finance team for signature by the 10th of the month
•  Monthly production scheduling and planning that translates to efficient use of winery’s resources. Prepares wines for bottling per the bottling calendar and blend specifications. Implements monthly, quarterly and yearly activities.
•  Maintains the bottling calendar on a rolling twelve month basis
•  Supervises various winery projects
•  Coordinates with outside wineries for custom crush work
o Ensures clients winemaking protocols are correctly implemented
•  Plans daily facility operations, writes work orders and makes sure database is properly maintained for Merryvale Winery production operations
•  As needed, assists and works closely with Starmont winemaker for wine quality control and stylistic goals for wines produced for the Starmont Brand
•  Reviews all forecasts to make sure vineyard sourcing is adequate for the upcoming harvest
•  Reviews all packaging purchase orders for quantity and price accuracy
•  Contracts and schedules all outside mobile bottling and filtering


VINEYARD (15%)
•  Works closely with the consulting winemaker to ensure highest standards for viticulture are met:
o For SFE’s Estate properties, consistent with vineyard budget
o Works closely with contracted vineyard management team to ensure the highest quality fruit
o For contracted grapes designated for production at Merryvale
•  Along with management and the consulting winemaker, evaluates and recommends vineyard sourcing
•  Works closely with Starmont Winemaker to determine harvest dates for all grapes harvested for production at Merryvale

PLANNING & ADMINISTRATIVE (10%)
•  On an annual basis, develops the following budgets for Merryvale and submits to the CFO for review:
o Capital Expenditures (barrels, facility and equipment)
o Production Operating Budget
•  Supervises Safety Training (Acts as Winery Safety Officer); (OSHA, HAZMAT, FORKLIFT CERTIFICATION etc.)
•  Coordinates with the cellar staff for mandatory record keeping and reporting (FDA bioterrorism, TTB, CAL OSHA, etc.)

FACILITY AND EQUIPMENT (10%)
•  Coordinates the following for Merryvale Winery:
o Cellar facility repair items
o Routine preventative maintenance (glycol system, CO2 exhaust system, night ventilation system, cooling and humidification)
•  Manages winery facility software
•  Coordinates repairs and preventative maintenance of cellar equipment
•  Makes suggestions on CAPEX purchases


MARKETING AND SALES SUPPORT (10%)
•  Acts as Winemaking representative for Merryvale and Starmont Wineries


Skills and Experience:
7-10 years in winemaking or enology
Proficient in Spanish highly desirable
Strong Excel and Winemaking database knowledge (Vintrace preffered)
Excellent communications and organizational skills