Winemaker

Under minimal supervision, understands and influences the full spectrum of all the processes in winemaking, from growing grapes (raw materials stage) through the quality of wine delivered to the consumer.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
• Responsible for identifying aromas and flavors in wines and recommends treatments to improve wine quality through tasting of inventory at assigned location(s).
• Actively participates in the wine tasting process and is responsible for the attainment of wine flavor profiles which meet marketing needs.
• Addresses supply/demand issues to help assure out of stock occurrences are minimized and the winery inventory is balanced.
• Responsible for the cellar process management of grapes, juices and wines including chemical and ingredient additions, racks, transfers, clarification, blends, shipping and final preparation for bottling.
• Manages supplies and ingredients, including pre-harvest winemaking supplies, all wine additives and Fining agents.
• Influences harvest decisions in the grapes received, crushing, pressing and fermentation process.
• Conducts Fining Trials, defect mitigation processes and general wine risk assessments.
• Initiates and develops the trials and experiments.
• Responsible for the completion and success of the Trials and Experiments.
• Participates on cross-functional continuous improvement teams for winemaking processes and procedures.
• Interfaces with other resources/departments of the organization in order to ensure successful (productive, high quality and profitable) completion of winemaking processes.
• Implements and manages winemaking process changes with guidance and supervision from Sr. Winemaker’s and management.
• Maintains wines within internal “gold standard” specifications from grape to bottle.
• Conducts presentations for internal and external customers.
• Must maintain satisfactory attendance, to include timeliness.
• Responsible for understanding and complying with applicable quality, environmental and safety regulatory considerations.
• If accountable for the work of others, responsible for ensuring their understanding and compliance.
• This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
May train and mentor Lab Technicians, Enologist’s and seasonal/temporary staff. May approve overtime on supervised seasonal and temporary staff.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
• Bachelor's degree from four-year College or university in Fermentation Science, Enology, Food Science or science related field, plus 3 to 5 years experience or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
SKILLS
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports and legal documents.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies or members of the business community.
• Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conforms to prescribed style and format.
• Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups and/or boards of directors.
• Computer skill requirements include: intermediate MS Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint.
• Ability to apply advanced mathematical concepts such as exponents, logarithms, quadratic equations and permutations.
• Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory and factor analysis.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Ability to work under different climatic conditions.
• Ability to carry out assignments that is broad and difficult in nature, requiring originality and ingenuity.
• Knows the fundamentals of personnel management.
• Must possess a strong working knowledge of all-winemaking equipment, processes and procedures at assigned location(s).
• Must possess and apply a broad knowledge of principles, practices and procedures of this particular field of specialization to the completion of difficult assignments.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
• Valid California Driver's License and clean DMV record required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include color vision (Judging Wine Color).
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, high, precarious places, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
For a complete job description and to apply on-line please visit:
http://jobs.gallo.com/careers/CareersHome.asp
Equal Employment Opportunity
EEO/AA M/F/V/D