Winemaker

Job Description:

Roles & Responsibilities

Team & Facility Leadership
- Oversee the daily workflow and productivity of the winery team, including task delegation, scheduling, and development of team members.
- Foster a strong culture of safety, cleanliness, accountability, and learning.
- Serve as the primary production lead on-site, collaborating closely with the head winemaker and always guided by company winemaking styles and values.
- Lead the onboarding and training of new cellar crew, seasonal interns, and vineyard hands. Coordinate internally to fill bottling and harvest shifts as needed.
- Communicate proactively with head winemaker, tasting room management, and leadership to share updates on batches, inventory, and budgetary needs.

Winemaking Operations
- Maintain a comprehensive vintage plan, adapting in real time to vintage conditions and fruit supply, collaborating with head winemaker on stylistic direction and director of operations on forecasting and inventory needs.
- Conduct regular sensory evaluations and blending trials, documenting decisions and collaborating on final blends.
- Track and analyze key wine chemistry metrics, working with internal or external labs as needed.
- Communicate relevant wine specs and tasting notes to marketing coordinator for label design and other marketing materials.
- Be open to incorporating experimental and non-traditional winemaking practices into wines and launching new products [including non-alcoholic wines] according to company goals.
- Manage relationships with other collaborating partners for products which require equipment or expertise outside of Living Roots domain, including but not limited to sparkling wine processing partners, distilleries, etc.

Harvest Coordination
- Develop and execute detailed harvest plans, including intake scheduling, grape processing logistics, and fermentation strategies by varietal and vineyard block.
- Lead vintage operations, ensuring team coverage, safety, accurate data collection, and good morale throughout the season.
- Communicate proactively with growers and coordinate transportation to ensure timely and quality grape deliveries. Negotiate and execute contracts with growers as needed.
- Collaborate with head winemaker and update director of operations on batches throughout.

Equipment & Facility Management
- Oversee all winery equipment maintenance, repairs, and improvements in collaboration and with approval from leadership.
- Maintain proper calibration and sanitation of tanks, barrels, hoses, pumps, and lab instruments.
- Ensure the facility is compliant with OSHA standards. Update, establish, and enforce internal protocols to ensure safe and efficient working conditions.
- Operate and maintain bottling line, setting the team up for successful bottling days and problem solving throughout.

Compliance & Reporting
- Manage federal and state compliance, including production reports, harvest declarations, and inventory records [e.g., TTB, NYSLA, ROWPO].
- Maintain accurate and organized documentation of all production-related activities, work orders, and lab results.
- Ensure traceability across all lots from grape reception through bottling and transfers of product to Rochester winery and third party storage facilities.
- Accurately track and maintain records of grape intake to determine which wines qualify for New York Sustainable Winegrowing certification.

Inventory, Supplies & Forecasting
- Maintain accurate bulk and bottled wine inventories [physical and virtual] in coordination with the cellar and tasting room teams.
- Forecast production needs and assist with dry goods procurement and vendor coordination. Source competitive quotes and prioritize minimizing waste.
- Accurately track and report on bulk, bonded, and tax paid wines, and submit ROWPO every quarter.
- Coordinate internally and with third party hauling companies for timely and safe transfers of product as needed.

Brand Representation, Hospitality & Education
- Accurately and positively represent Living Roots’ brand and wines at professional events, distributor tastings, trade visits, and media opportunities as needed.
- Participate in winery-hosted and off-site events as well as wine club activities.
- Collaborate with tasting room and marketing teams to tell the Living Roots story authentically and compellingly, and provide educational information on wines so that staff can communicate to guests.

Qualifications:

Degree in Enology, Viticulture, or related field and/or winemaking experience totaling 5 yrs.
2 years vintage leadership and staff management.
Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency with Google Workspace; experience with winemaking software is a plus.
Knowledge of cool-climate varietals and Finger Lakes AVA preferred.
Forklift certification and ability to operate other winery equipment safely.
Ability to lift 50 lbs. and work flexible hours, including early mornings, weekends, and extended shifts during harvest.

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