Emeritus Vineyards is a small, family-owned winery in Sebastopol, CA whose focus is on one thing and one thing only: producing the finest estate grown Pinot Noir possible. We have 110 acres planted in the renowned Russian River Valley “Hallberg Ranch” vineyard as well as our 30-acre rising star known as “Pinot Hill”. During the 2024 harvest, we expect to process approx. 200 tons of meticulously dry farmed fruit from 35 vineyard blocks and 13 different clonal selections or strains.?

We are looking for highly dedicated and reliable individuals to join our small team for the 2024 harvest season for a hands-on look at what it takes to produce Pinot Noir of the highest caliber. You will be working directly with the small winemaking team learning how to craft Pinot Noir from beginning to end. This is not a position where you will be stuck retrieving samples for weeks. The atmosphere is dynamic and multiple types of operations are carried out each day.??

Please reference which position you are interested in when applying.

Harvest enologist position:
This person will be responsible for lab analysis during bottling and harvest but will also have ample time in the cellar when the need for analysis is lower (this could be daily or weekly). The harvest enologist will be the primary operator of our fully automated state-of-the-art enzymatic analyzer and a fully stocked lab for wet chemistry. Must be willing to work with a flexible schedule with some long days and some short days depending on workload, some weekend work is required. This is a terrific way to gain a deep understanding of juice and wine analysis and gain confidence in the cellar too! A basic understanding of typical analysis values, basic cellar skills, organization and attention to detail are highly desired.

Harvest Winemaker position:
We are looking for someone to be based primarily on the crush-pad and in the cellar but will also have the opportunity to sample in the vineyard as well as carry out some basic analysis. This person will be focused and detail oriented and will preferably already possess some cellar skills and knowledge (press/pump operation, sensory abilities, knowledge of fermentation process, excellent hygiene habits, safety minded etc. forklift experience a plus). This is a dynamic position that can have you involved in every step of the process in the cellar and is a fantastic way to increase your knowledge of the Pinot Noir winemaking process and work with a small, dedicated team of winemakers. Must be willing to work with a flexible schedule including some long days and some short days depending on workload, some weekend work required. Must love music and rubber boots!

The right candidate will be thoughtful, adaptive, have a positive attitude and be able to execute instructions accurately without fail in a fast paced and changing environment and most of all, be excited and willing to learn. We take pride in our work but also make a point of having a fun time and enjoying ourselves during our day in a positive atmosphere. Good music, hard work and humor is a must for us and reflecting on the day with cold beers is common.?

We have a 2-bedroom apartment in our vineyard, across the street from the winery that is potentially available for those who need housing.

Hourly rate: $20-$25

Please send your resume, cover letter and any questions to:

Keith Hammond
Winemaker