Assistant Winemaker / Cellar Lead

Assistant Winemaker / Cellar Lead Position: Johnson Estate Winery, Westfield, NY

New York’s Oldest Estate Winery

Johnson Estate is seeking an assistant winemaker to join our production team. Working closely with our Winemaker and the production and operations teams, the assistant winemaker will be involved in all stages of wine production—from bud to bottle. We’re looking for a detail-oriented, technically skilled team player who loves wine and the Great Lakes.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain a safe work environment and follow standard operating procedures at all times
• Sanitation of a winery is critical. Must pay close attention to detail and independently maintain general cleanliness and sanitation.
• Ensure cellar equipment readiness and communicate maintenance needs to the Winemaker.
• Perform sanitation in all areas of cellar operations; tanks, hoses, barrels, pumps, crush equipment and any other equipment necessary to maintain the integrity of the must and wine.
• Competently demonstrate ability to run a fork lift to stack pallets, empty bottles, load and unload trucks, palletize and safely strap and organize palletized goods.
• Assist in the receiving and processing of grapes; operate receiving equipment including hoist, auger, destemmer. Set up receiving tank and must lines.
• Carry out cellar procedures such as rack and returns, rack off gross lees, tank to tank or barrel to tank, and filtrations.
• Set up and execute filling, topping and additions to barrels.
• Read and perform cellar tasks as directed in the work order with the ability to comprehend detailed work order instructions, complete the job and fill out work orders to completion using Vintrace.
• Assist in bottling, including but not limited, to working on the bottling line in any capacity, QC checks on wine and bottling components, receipt of components, loading of finished case goods, filtration and assisting where necessary.
• Demonstrate ability to perform basic laboratory analysis.
• Perform basic maintenance on winery equipment such as: hose repair, pump rebuilds, forklift battery and forklift upkeep.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Winemaking or similar degree or multi vintage experience with laboratory experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, ability to learn and execute Vintrace.
• Skilled forklift operator.
• Basic laboratory skills, pH, alcohol, titratable acidity.
• Must be responsible and work well with others.
• Must be able to perform the functions of the position as described in a normal winery environment and work with sulfur dioxide, sanitizers, mild organic acids and alcohol safely and responsibly.
• Must be capable of operating all required equipment: pallet jack, scissor lift, forklift, filters, pumps and barrel washers.
• Must be able to walk, stoop and bend repeatedly.
• Must be able to work in confined spaces.
• Must be able to stand on concrete for 10+ hours.
• Must be able to perform regular strenuous physical work.
• Must be able to work on ladders and catwalks at heights up to 35 feet.
• Must be able to repetitively lift and carry up to 50 pounds. Objects could be a case of wine, must line or a wine barrel.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule including long hours, overtime, and various shifts during harvest.