Abacela is seeking a full-time Production Assistant. This position will report directly to the Winemaker and work closely with the Winemaking Team, General Manager, and CEO.
Abacela is a 76 acre Oregon estate winery (www.abacela.com) that pioneered the production of Tempranillo and Albariño as varietal wines in America. Our estate’s Fault Line Vineyards with its diverse topography and many mesoclimes and soil types has been dubbed “The most interesting vineyard property in Oregon.” This setting has permitted us to match old world grapes not previously grown in the region to different microclimate-soil sites. These achievements have contributed greatly to Abacela’s leadership in production of alternative varieties that are now grown and produced by others across the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere in the USA.
We specialize in grapes and wine styles indigenous to the Iberian Peninsula. The vines are managed sustainably with limited inputs and are hand harvested. Our winemaking approach focuses on quality, producing balanced and expressive wines that respect varietal character. The Production Assistant role provides an opportunity to work with a talented team, grow professionally, and play a prominent role at a winery that has pioneered numerous grape varieties in Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. We are a family owned and operated gravity flow winery that grows and harvests about 200 plus tons of seventeen different grape varieties producing around 12,000 cases of high-quality wine annually.
Job Description:
The Production Assistant will be responsible for a variety of winemaking duties including year-round tasks such as topping, transfers, filtration, forklifting, cleaning/sanitation, lab analysis, basic maintenance of equipment, and data entry/record keeping. They will also play a vital role during harvest assisting the Winemaker with all harvest duties and providing leadership and training of interns and seasonal harvest workers. In addition, they will participate in all bottlings and support warehouse operations.

Essential Duties:
•  Basic cellar activities such as wine movements, topping, additions and filtration.
•  Cleaning, sanitizing and sterilizing all winery equipment and facilities.
•  Forklift operation.
•  Barrel work (cleaning & sanitation, receiving, tracking, filling, topping, racking, etc.)
•  Harvest operations: fruit receival and processing, cap management, additions, inoculations, pressing and barrel downs.
•  Assist in bottling operations.
•  Assist in the supervision and training of Harvest Interns.
•  Basic equipment maintenance (hose repair, maintaining pumps, etc.).
•  Assist in maintaining an accurate inventory utilizing Innovint production software.
•  Assist with warehouse operations and organization of case goods.
•  Maintain a clean safe working environment.
•  Assist Winemaker in tastings, blending trials, and quality control
Knowledge, Skills, and Other Requirements:
•  Self-motivated, professional, reliable, energetic, positive attitude, and a team player with the willingness to adapt and weather adversity and other challenges.
•  Able to perform physical labor and work long hours, including nights and weekends, during peak times of the year (harvest).
•  Able to stay focused and perform tasks efficiently and with great attention to detail, with a focus on safety and quality of work
•  Ability to understand and follow written and verbal instructions.
•  Operate a forklift with confidence and competence.
•  Good communication skills and the ability to train and supervise seasonal staff during harvest

Qualifications:
•  Successful candidates will demonstrate a strong passion, sincere interest, and curiosity for wine.
•  An appreciation for hand-crafted, premium wines along with a desire and mindset to produce the best wines possible.
•  Minimum of 2 years winery production experience
•  Must be at least 21 years old
•  Have a valid driver’s license and reliable personal transportation
•  Be able to repeatedly lift at least 50 pounds
•  Be able to speak and write clearly in English
•  Enology, Viticulture or wine studies degree/certificate is a plus

This is a full-time salaried position. Abacela offers a compensation package including paid leave + holidays, medical insurance including dental, 401k with company match, and a yearly wine allocation.

Please reply to this listing with Cover Letter and Resume.