Winemaking and Spirits Distillation Internship

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 Winemaking and Spirits Distillation Internship

Duration: July-December 2025

California Locations: Modesto, Fresno, Livingston and Lodi, CA

New York Location: Canandaigua, NY

Application Deadline: December 1, 2024

• Applications will not be reviewed until the posting close date.

Immerse yourself in the forefront of grape cultivation, winemaking, and distillation with Gallo's cutting-edge technologies. As an intern, you'll gain hands-on experience in producing high-quality wines and spirits, collaborating with industry professionals on essential production practices and research projects. Our production sites craft nearly 100 million cases annually, driven by a passion for excellence and a culture of continuous improvement. For nearly a century, Gallo has been a global leader in wine and spirits innovation. This five-to-six-month program, starting in early summer, offers comprehensive technical training and professional development, welcoming diverse academic backgrounds. Join us and make your mark in the alcohol beverage industry.

Placement Opportunities

• Winemaking Interns assist with production winemaking at the commercial scale at one of our wineries.
• Research Winemaking Interns assist with the production of small-lots – with volumes ranging from 10-gallons to 1,000-gallons.
• Spirits Distillation Interns assist with the commercial production of brandy, whiskey, rum, flavored vodkas, hard seltzers, and other spirits.

Winemaking

Locations: Modesto, Fresno, Livingston and Lodi, CA; and Canandaigua, NY.

A Taste of What You’ll Do

• Work and learn from winemakers responsible for the production of table wines, sparkling wines, flavored wines and other beverages.
• Participate in product evaluations and trials including, but not limited to, sample acquisition, production practices and fermentation monitoring.
• Participate in wine tasting and sensory evaluation.
• Perform fining, blending and other winemaking trials.
• Participate in the production, sensory evaluation and bottling of commercial wines and beverages.

Research Winemaking

Locations: Modesto, Livingston, and Healdsburg, CA

A Taste of What You’ll Do

• Engage hands-on in every winemaking step, from grape crush to bottling. Our facilities support statewide research and enable production from diverse California winegrowing regions.
• Gain experience in producing various wine styles, including white, red, sparkling, and dessert wines, while working with numerous grape varieties and winemaking methods
• Grape receiving, crushing, and pressing.
• Fermentation monitoring, filtration, ingredient additions, and post-fermentation treatments.
• Assist with bench, pilot, and plant scale experiments, including recording and documenting data.
• Participate in wine tasting and sensory evaluation.

Spirits Distillation

Location: Modesto, CA

A Taste of What You’ll Do

• Learn from experienced distillers producing a variety of spirits. Spirits-making is an area of rapid growth for Gallo and the environment is dynamic as we learn how to distill and craft new beverages.
• Manage bench-scale trials to problem solve current production issues.
• Evaluate process improvements in making and managing our spirits portfolio.
• Monitor fermentation and distillation facilities during harvest.
• Participate in spirits tasting and sensory evaluation.

What You’ll Need

• Currently enrolled at a college or university and working towards a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree OR have obtained a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in the following areas: School of Life Sciences, School of Agricultural Sciences, or School of Engineering (Business or social sciences degrees are not eligible for this internship, such as ag business, psychology, etc).
• Available for the entire duration of the internship program area(s) of interest.
• Candidate is required to have a valid driver’s license, a safe driving record and reliable vehicle (if applicable) at the time of hire. This position will undergo a motor vehicle check (MVR) to confirm a history of safe and responsible driving. If needed, candidate must obtain the appropriate state driver’s license based on the position’s location within 30 days of hire.
• Required to travel to and from varying winery locations up to 10% of the time.
• Reliable transportation to and from work.
• Required to lift and move up to 40 lbs. when necessary.
• Required to work at heights of 50 feet, on tops of tanks inspecting wine surfaces when necessary.
• Required to be 21 years of age.
• Requires availability to work evenings, weekends and holidays when necessary.
• Strong applied technical skills and analytical problem-solving skills.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Required to be 18 years or older. This may be in addition to other age requirements, if applicable, as listed in this job description.

How You’ll Stand Out

• Junior or Senior class standing at a college or university and working towards a Bachelor’s degree in the school of Life Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, or Engineering; OR working towards a Master’s degree in the school of Life Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, or Engineering.
• Excellent organizational and team skills and experience managing multiple assignments.
• Comfortable in a manufacturing environment.
• Mechanical inclination and an aptitude for design of equipment and manufacturing processes.