Harvest Interns – Simpson Family Estates

Leelanau County, Michigan | Approximately 25 Minutes from Traverse City
Two Positions Available | 4–6 Month Seasonal Opportunity | Housing Available

Simpson Family Estates is seeking two Harvest Interns to join our production team for the upcoming harvest season in Leelanau County, Michigan, approximately 25 minutes from Traverse City.

Simpson Family Estates is a growing, family-owned beverage company rooted in Northern Michigan agriculture, hospitality, and wine production. Our family has been farming and producing wine in Leelanau County since 1980. Today, our company includes estate vineyards, established wine brands, custom crush production, custom label services, direct-to-consumer tasting rooms, and expanding offsite retail partnerships across Michigan.

Our portfolio includes Good Harbor Vineyards and Aurora Cellars, along with developing wine, cider, and sparkling beverage programs. We produce wines for our own brands as well as partner wineries and private-label clients. Our production environment offers interns exposure to a broad range of winemaking and beverage production, including still wine, cider, and a significant amount of Charmat-method sparkling wine production.

For the upcoming harvest, we expect to process approximately 500–700 tons of fruit, providing interns with meaningful hands-on experience in a fast-paced, high-volume, professional production setting.

This internship is ideal for candidates who have some previous harvest, cellar, vineyard, brewery, cidery, food production, or related production experience and are looking to build their skills in a serious, growth-oriented cellar environment. Interns will work closely with our winemaking and production team throughout harvest and will gain exposure to estate wine production, custom crush operations, cider production, sparkling wine production, packaging, and cellar logistics.

About the opportunity

This is a 4–6 month seasonal harvest position with housing available. The role will begin around the start of harvest and continue through the primary production season. Exact timing may vary based on candidate availability and vintage conditions.

For the right candidate, this position may also serve as a pathway into a longer-term role with Simpson Family Estates. We are growing quickly and continuing to expand our production, packaging, logistics, and beverage development programs. We are looking for individuals who are dependable, hard-working, curious, and interested in building a career in the wine and beverage industry.

Responsibilities may include:

Fruit receiving, sorting, weighing, and processing
Operating and assisting with crush equipment
Fermentation monitoring, sampling, and recordkeeping
Punch-downs, pump-overs, additions, and cap management
Pressing, racking, transfers, blending support, and barrel work
Tank, pump, hose, and equipment sanitation
Assisting with cider production and cellar operations
Supporting Charmat sparkling wine production workflows
Assisting with bottling, canning, packaging, labeling, and warehouse organization
Supporting custom crush and custom label production
Maintaining a clean, safe, and organized production environment
Working flexible harvest-season hours, including long days and weekends as needed

Ideal candidates will have:

Previous cellar, harvest, vineyard, brewery, cidery, food production, or related agricultural/production experience
A strong work ethic and willingness to take initiative
Good attention to detail and ability to follow production protocols
A positive, professional attitude
Ability to work well as part of a team
Comfort with long days and flexible harvest-season schedules
Ability to lift 50 lbs. and perform physical work on their feet for extended periods
Interest in still wine, sparkling wine, cider, and broader beverage production
Desire to grow with an expanding company that offers room for career advancement

Prior winery or cellar experience is preferred, but candidates with adjacent production, agricultural, brewery, cidery, or food processing experience will also be considered.

What interns can expect to learn:

Hands-on harvest and cellar operations
Commercial still wine production across multiple brands and wine styles
Cider production and cellar management
Charmat-method sparkling wine production
Custom crush and private-label production workflows
Fermentation monitoring and cellar recordkeeping
Sanitation standards, safety practices, and production organization
Packaging, logistics, and warehouse coordination
How a growing regional beverage company manages quality, scale, and operational complexity

Position details:

Company: Simpson Family Estates
Location: Leelanau County, Michigan, approximately 25 minutes from Traverse City
Positions available: 2
Position type: Seasonal harvest internship
Expected duration: 4–6 months
Housing: Available
Expected crush: Approximately 500–700 tons
Production exposure: Still wine, cider, Charmat sparkling wine, custom crush, and custom label production
Compensation: Competitive hourly pay based on experience
Start date: Harvest season; timing flexible depending on candidate availability and vintage needs
Long-term opportunity: Potential career advancement for the right candidate

Simpson Family Estates is seeking interns who want more than a seasonal harvest job. This is an opportunity to work with a growing Northern Michigan wine and beverage company during an exciting stage of expansion. The right candidates will gain meaningful production experience, work alongside a dedicated winemaking team, and contribute to a company building the next chapter of Michigan wine, cider, and sparkling beverage production.

To apply, please send a resume and brief introduction to: