Job Description
Marked Tree Vineyard is a family-run, award-winning vineyard and winery located on the Eastern Continental Divide in the Crest of the Blue Ridge AVA. We farm 15 acres of vines on a 65-acre mountain estate and are looking for a working Estate & Vineyard Manager who leads by doing.
This is not a desk job. The right candidate will be in the vineyard daily—pruning, training, spraying, monitoring vines, troubleshooting equipment, and working alongside the crew—while ensuring the vineyard property and estate are prepared for guests. They will report to the Senior Viticulturist while coordinating across the management team to support overall operations.
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What You’ll Do

In the Vineyard (Primary Focus)
•  Harvest prep, pruning, tying, hedging, suckering, de-leafing, and canopy management alongside the established vineyard crew, while training to ensure consistency
•  Establish, enforce, and maintain a practical safety program, including crew training, proper PPE use, spray compliance, equipment safety checks, and incident awareness/reporting
•  Maintain spray program and reports in accordance with the Senior Viticulturist; monitor pests, disease, and vine health
•  Conducting soil testing for pH and fertility, and recommending corrections as needed to the Senior Viticulturist
•  Track yields by block, develop harvest estimates, and monitor fruit quality with a focus on premium wine production and evaluate with the Senior Viticulturist
•  Lead and work with seasonal crews during critical periods (especially harvest)
•  Coordinate closely with winemaking during harvest—this is all hands-on deck
•  Operate tractors, sprayers, and vineyard equipment in line with safety standards
On the Estate
•  Keep the property running—roads, drainage, debris removal, general infrastructure
•  Perform routine grounds-keeping including mowing, weed trimming, fertilizing, overseeding, maintaining flower beds, mulching, pruning, and applying herbicides in designated areas
•  Ensure all vineyard and grounds-keeping equipment is on site and in good operating condition
•  Troubleshoot repairs for equipment, fix what breaks or coordinate maintenance and schedule services
•  Help keep the estate looking sharp for guests, execute seasonal setups, and support event set up when needed
Leadership
•  Set the pace and standard for the team—this is a lead-from-the-front role
•  Train, supervise, instruct, and provide safety training to crew members while building a strong, reliable team
•  Ability to work closely with and advise additional management to develop and execute high level plans
•  Plan, but stay flexible—farming varies based on season (green season or winter), weather, and workload
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What We’re Looking For
•  3-5+ years of real vineyard experience with daily presence/involvement (you’ve done the work yourself)
•  Strong practical knowledge of spraying, pruning, and vine balance
•  Willing to obtain an NC spray license or currently possess a commercial license
•  Comfortable on tractors and with basic mechanical repair
•  Experienced team-builder with a good disposition, leading small crews without losing the hands-on edge
•  Problem-solver who takes ownership and follows through
•  Physically capable of working outdoors in varying weather conditions along with exposure to dust, pollen, insects, and crop protection materials
•  The ability to lift and move 50 pounds regularly, walk steep or inclined vineyards, stand for long periods of time and repeatedly bend/kneel
•  Availability to work extended hours during harvest season, including late nights and early mornings, is required
•  Functionally bilingual in Spanish is a strong plus
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Compensation & Benefits
•  Competitive salary (DOE)
•  401(k) with employer match
•  Health, dental, vision, and short-term disability insurance
•  Life insurance
•  Paid Time Off (PTO)
•  Employee discount