At Van Duzer, we approach winemaking with the belief that our quality comes from more than just our raw inputs, but from personal connection, fastidious attention to detail, and enjoyment in meeting a challenge. We know the quality of our wine comes from our team first, and the small daily actions required to make it happen. Van Duzer has a commitment to sustainability. We were one of the first Live certified vineyards and wineries, we want to make good wines today and long into the future.

We have two Estate properties, one in Dundee and one in the Van Duzer Corridor that we use to make sparkling wine, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. We produce wine for ourselves and our custom crush clients in small to medium lot fermenters, we will bring in about 350+ tons in 2024.

Van Duzer is looking to hire two qualified applicants to work for an extended internship period that is both a role helping our vineyard manager in our two different estate vineyards and a harvest position in the winery during the fall. The intention is to give the applicants we hire an opportunity to learn from bud break to barrel about the winemaking process.

The position will last from now until November/December. During the summer the position will be vineyard based in a hands-on viticulture role, but as we move closer to August the role will be based more in the winery as we prepare for bottling and harvest. Once fruit starts arriving to the winery and harvest is in full swing the position will be the same as one of our traditional cellar or lab positions (the lab and cellar positions are separate, please specify your preference) until the completion of harvest.

Van Duzer does have housing on site that is available free of charge during employment, and during the harvest period we provide lunches for the staff.

Basic responsibilities:

Vineyard

Work along side full time vineyard crew performing hand labor tasks including disbudding, shoot positioning, leaf pulling, cluster thinning, etc.

Work with vineyard manager to monitor vine water balance, scout for disease, and vine/soil sampling.

Assist vineyard manager with crop estimates.

Other duties as assigned.

Winery

Assist in August bottling by helping prepare wines by racking, filtering, stabilizing. Participate on the line during bottling in various positions.

Join the cellar team in all aspects of harvest work – cleaning, fruit receival, pressing, racking, pump overs, additions, and barrel filling.

Participate actively in learning about and our winemaking style and bringing QC issues to the attention of the winemaking staff.

Record keeping on work orders.

Lab

Perform routine lab analysis on grapes, juice, must, and wine: Brix, pH, TA, FSO2, RS.

Assist winemakers with vineyard sample collection.

Data entry and reporting to Van Duzer and custom crush clients.

Assist in cellar work after completion of lab work.

Candidates must be able to:

Have the ability to understand written and verbal instructions in English.

Stand for long periods of time.

Have a good sense of humor (there will be cheesy winemaking jokes).

Lift 50 pounds.

Tolerate varying climactic conditions.

Work days that most likely will exceed 10 hours.

Be punctual.

Pay attention to detail.

Document work with great accuracy.

Work with metric system.

Ability to speak Spanish is a plus.

Be willing to participate in recipe development and production of post-shift homebrews.

Ability to operate a Forklift is a plus.

Be flexible and willing to work varying shifts, overtime, extended hours and weekends.

Mostly importantly have a true desire to make outstanding wine!


Send us an email with a resume and cover letter if you think you would be a good fit for our position!