Production Assistant
Ashton Creek Vineyard | Virginia
5,000 to 6,000 cases | Certified Regenerative Estate Winery

About Ashton Creek Vineyard:
Ashton Creek Vineyard is a family-owned, certified regenerative Virginia farm winery producing 5,000 to 6,000 cases annually from estate and locally sourced fruit. Our vineyards are managed with soil-first, ecosystem-driven practices including livestock integration, cover cropping, and minimal intervention. We believe the best wines come from healthy soils, resilient vines, and hands-on people.

We are seeking a Production Assistant who wants to help shape wines from soil to bottle.

The Role:

The Production Assistant is a core production leader at Ashton Creek. This role is responsible for monitoring fermentations, performing routine laboratory work, and managing the barrel program, while also participating directly in regenerative vineyard operations that influence fruit quality and educating our customers on the entire process. This is a hands-on role working with a diverse portfolio of Virginia varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Chambourcin, Tempranillo, Albarino, Petit Manseng, Sauvignon Rytos, Viognier, Muscat, and Traminette) from soil to glass.

Key Responsibilities:

-Maintain accurate, real-time fermentation and wine tracking records.
-Perform routine winery lab work (SO2, pH, TA, basic stability checks).
-Support blending trials, sensory evaluation, and quality monitoring.
-Keep lab and compliance records organized and audit-ready.
-Own barrel tracking, sanitation, topping, rack-and-return, and long-term aging logistics.
-Maintain inventory and barrel condition to support blending and release schedules.
-Execute and help lead racking, transfers, fining, filtration, blending prep, and bottling.
-Maintain high sanitation, safety, and organizational standards.

Vineyard and Customer Interface:

You will have the opportunity to actively participate in vineyard operations that directly affect wine quality, including:
-Vineyard sampling/scouting
-Pruning and shoot thinning
-Rotation of livestock through vineyard blocks
-Educating TR staff and guests on winery and vineyard operations
This role connects what happens in the vineyard to what happens in the winery.

Requirements:
- 2+ years of hands-on cellar experience
-Valid Driver Lisence
-Solid understanding of fermentation management, cellar operations, and winery lab fundamentals
- Comfortable taking ownership of wine quality and making real-time decisions
-Self-driven, organized, detail-oriented, and reliable
-Interest in site-driven wine
-Forklift certification or willingness to become certified

Work Environment:
-Must be able to lift 50 lbs, work on your feet in wet and uneven conditions, and handle long days and weekends primarily during harvest
-Full-time, year-round position

Compensation:
Competitive rate based on experience, 401K, and medical benefits.