Whitehall Lane Winery is looking for a few great cellar interns for this 2024 harvest! Ideal candidates will have the ability to follow directions, encompass a positive work ethic, work independently or in groups, and have the willingness to work until the job is done. We are looking for people who LOVE all aspects of wine, want to learn more, and enjoy hard work. This position will start in late August and end sometime in late November or mid-December depending on the 2024 harvest. This is a seasonal, full-time, hourly paid position.

About us: We are a family-owned and operated winery operation founded in 1979. The winery is located on Highway 29 in Rutherford, with several ultra-premium estate vineyards in the Napa Valley, as well as Sonoma. Our main focus is Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc, but we do bring in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Semillon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Carmenere, and Paseante Noir/Camminare Noir (Pierce’s Disease resistant varieties). We dabble in methode champenoise sparkling wine as well, so we will be able to show you many different winemaking styles here at Whitehall Lane Winery.

About you: The perfect candidate will ideally have a great knowledge in wine, vineyards, or winemaking. A positive attitude, with good energy, sense of humor, and hard work ethic are critical to this role. Expect long hours, expect to learn something, expect to do what needs to be done, and expect to work with a great crew of individuals from all over the world that have the common goal to make a superior product.

Duties:

•  Assist in receiving and processing fruit, sorting, and pressing: Lucky for you, we have an amazing new processing set up coming through this year and it will make the sorting, processing, and cleaning process even that much better. Pressing will be just as enjoyable.

•  Sanitation of winery & equipment: Winemaking is truly 90% cleaning and sanitation. Wine is perishable and prone to spoilage. This is literally the least romantic part of winemaking, but also the most necessary. Expect to enjoy our PPE that we provide as you make our equipment, hoses, and drains sparkly clean.

•  Make additions to juice, must, & wine: Part of making wine is about adding food-grade additives to keep the ferments and chemistry in a happy place. It’s our expectation that you train on the preparation of these additives, as well as use a scale in grams and kilos (go metric!).

•  Perform punch-downs & pump-overs: Cap management and extraction are how we make red wines red, therefore it is an essential part of the process that requires your constant attention. This year, we will have a total of 19 tanks that are designed for timed, auto pumpovers to increase our automation footprint and make better wines. Think "Skynet" for pumpovers without all the AI!

•  Juice racking, and wine movements from tank to tank: Movement of juice in an anaerobic, nitrogen environment is important for protecting our fragile juice. This is where you learn how to use a DO meter.

•  Barrel filling, topping, stirring, and racking: Yes, we have barrels and they will need care at various stages of the wine’s life. We even train how to take the barrels apart if you so desire.

•  Monitor fermentations: While doing pumpovers, use your senses to smell or see if there’s something that needs extra TLC. Does the fermentation need O2 or nutrients? Is there complete cap coverage or is it overheating? Communication and collaboration are expected.

•  Assist lab and winemaking team in sampling within the winery: The lab and winemaking team will lean on you to sample wines accurately for lab analysis.

•  Remove pomace from tanks & presses: After draining a tank, you will have to enter and safely shovel out ALL the grapes…with the hopes of shattering the tank dig out record. Many have tried…many have failed.

•  Record data and complete work orders: Reading, writing, and using logic are keys to success here.

•  Vineyard sampling: Be prepared to walk and be one with vineyard rows, grapes, birds, bees, and ground squirrels.

Qualifications:

•  Must possess strong communication and interpersonal skills.
•  Must have the ability to read, write, understand and communicate in English.
•  Good reading, writing and math skills.
•  Ability to work flexible hours six days/week
•  Have reliable transportation and report to work on-time.
•  Ability to accurately complete work instructions individually or in a team.
•  Attention to detail and a commitment to a quality product.
•  Commitment to excellence and high standards.
•  Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work within constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm.
•  Great attitude, appetite for learning, and be ready to work hard and have fun at the same time.

Physical Requirements:

•  Ability to be on your feet for long periods of time.
•  Ability to bend, squat and lift 50 lbs.
•  Able to work long hours and overtime.
•  Performs work duties in various weather conditions outdoors or indoors.
•  Temperatures in the cellar are cool and noise level is usually moderate.
•  Full body mobility: Ability to stand; walk; sit; use tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance, kneel.

Please send a resume and cover letter when applying. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

www.whitehalllane.com