Part of global powerhouse Viña Concha y Toro, Bonterra Organic Estates is focused on crafting wines made from organic and Regenerative Organic Certified® grapes from our facility in Mendocino County, California, including category leader Bonterra; Fetzer; and 1000 Stories, California's original Bourbon barrel-aged wine.

As Sr. Winemaker, you will be accountable for the strategy, leadership and execution of winemaking activities—from harvest logistics and fermentation through blending and bottling—to deliver consistent, award winning (90+ point) wines at scale. Participate in organic/sustainable production systems, manage custom crush client programs with a high touch, commercial mindset, and drive a culture of safety, quality and continuous improvement across a 1.2M case operation.

Responsibilities

Vintage Processing/Production
•  Own end-to-end harvest logistics including fruit scheduling, receival, weigh tag accuracy, intake assessment and capacity utilization
•  Direct fermentation strategy (yeast/bacteria selection, nutrient/O2 management, cap management, temperature curves)
•  Oversee bulk inventory
•  Ensure organic and sustainability standards are designed into SOPs (approved inputs, segregation, chain of custody, audit readiness)
•  Partner with Grower Relations to assess vineyards, optimize pick windows, and align fruit quality to program specs
•  Lead the winemaking operating budget for assigned brands and custom clients, yield performance, loss management and cost per case; deliver projects on or under target
•  Ensure zero nonconformances in organic/food safety audits; inventory accuracy

Blending/Product Readiness
•  Lead sensory evaluation and analytical reviews to allocate lots and create blends
•  Build award-winning profiles capable of achieving 90+ point scores in relevant publication
•  Prepare blends to final spec; issue clear, timely cellar work orders; manage ullage and corrective actions
•  Ensure prebottling readiness (free SO2, DO/CO2, filtration plans, cold stabilization, additions) and on-time delivery

Custom Crush/Client Management
•  Serve as primary technical contact for custom crush clients: define style/brief, contract specs, service levels, and milestones
•  Provide proactive status communications, tastings, and decision points; manage trials, approvals, documentation
•  Coordinate with Finance and Supply Chain to maintain scope, cost transparency, invoicing, accuracy

Marketing/Trade/Promotion
•  Represent the winery in trade tastings, media, winemaker dinners, key account visits
•  Maintain current knowledge of competitive sets and trends

NPD/Trials/Continuous Improvement Activities
•  Design and execute NPD trials (yeast/nutrient regimes, oak trials, fining/filtration, DO/CO2 optimization)
•  Scale successful trials; formalize SOP updates; present outcomes

Safety, EHS, HK&S Compliance
•  Model and enforce safety-first behaviors; ensure compliance with EHS/HK&S policies, Cal/OSHA requirements and food safety standards
•  Conduct monthly safety walks/audits; lead incident investigations

Team Activities
•  Participate in developing a high-performing winemaking team; set clear KPIs
•  Facilitate structured tasting panels and postmortems (vintage and packaging)
•  Promote a culture of continuous improvement and problem solving

Requirements
•  Bachelor’s Degree in Enology/Fermentation Science or related field, and 10 years progressive winemaking experience, or equivalent combination education/experience
•  10+ vintages of progressive winemaking experience, including large scale operations (=500k cases); multi site experience a +
•  Demonstrated leadership of organic wine programs (certification requirements, inputs, audits, chain of custody)
•  Proven custom crush and client-facing record of accomplishment with references
•  Evidence of 90+ point results from reputable publications across one or more brands/tiers
•  Vineyard assessment and fruit to program alignment; harvest logistics at scale
•  Fermentation management, oxygen management, microbiology and stability
•  Blending architecture, sensory leadership
•  Packaging readiness (filtration, stabilization, gas management)
•  Extended hours during harvest; Travel 20%
•  Valid Driver’s License and ability to be insured

Preferred
•  Organic certification familiarity (USDA Organic, CCOF) and sustainability frameworks (CCSW)
•  Bilingual Eng/Span

Physical Requirements - Ability to lift/carry up to 50 lbs. and push/pull up to 30 lbs. on an occasional basis; requires ability to occasionally stand, walk, reach upward/upward; occasionally climb, crawl, squat, kneel, bend; requires frequent sitting, and hand and finger dexterity for keyboarding and working at computer on a frequent basis. Occasionally requires safety glasses, hearing protection, PPE equipment.

Location - Onsite. 12901 Old River Road Hopland, CA

Compensation - The target salary range: $136,000-$155,000 per year and annual incentive target

Benefits - First day Medical, Dental, Vision, Life & Disability, 401k with company match, STD, LTD, paid vacation, sick leave, company holidays. Health Care and Dependent Care FSA benefits for eligible employees. Volunteer Time Off (VTO)

About Bonterra Organic Estates - Our California winery includes Mendocino County winery, production and approximately 830 acres of vineyards. The company employs 200 across the US. In addition to Certified B Corporation, other certifications include: TRUE Zero Waste, CCOF, and Fish Friendly Farming

Apply - https://recruiting2.ultipro.com/FET1003FETZ/JobBoard/c6d65af3-319c-4d5a-8905-6818e98b821b

Requires successful completion of criminal background, drug screen. AA/EOE/M/F/D/V Required to submit verification of your citizenship/legal right to work in US at the time of employment offer

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