Company Background

At Crimson Wine Group, we are the guardians of 1,000 acres of pristine vineyards, iconic estates, forests, and wildlife habitats along the West Coast. Our success stems from the wide range of perspectives that our team brings to every single one of our wines – from vine to bottle and beyond. Our portfolio is cultivated to elevate any occasion and to simply make life better.

At Crimson Wine Group (CWG), we are dedicated to building an inclusive environment with a culture of belonging. We strive to create an inclusive environment where all our team members feel connected, engaged, and can live their true identities at work. Here at CWG, we celebrate the value that comes with inclusivity and different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, which all help foster a culture of collaboration and creativity with the wine industry as a whole.

Position Summary

The Viticulture Director is a senior position at Pine Ridge overseeing the farming of its luxury vineyard assets in the most prestigious AVA of Napa Valley as well as supervising any contracted grape supplies. The Viticulture Director is responsible for the quality and quantities of Pine Ridge’s grape supplies while managing its yearly budget and preparing the viticultural future of Pine Ridge. This position reports to the Pine Ridge Winemaker.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

The following reflects management’s definition of essential functions for this job but does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned. Management may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.

Strategic Planning and Annual Budgeting

Create a long range vision for each estate vineyard, including vineyard layout, clonal selection, viticultural practices, biodiversity mapping, land use, etc.

Determine the Long Range Plan for vineyard development and its budget. An interest in future looking technologies is required
Create a game plan for transitioning our vineyards to regenerative farming practices aiming at productivity that exceeds typical operational expectations (aka >100 year timeline)
Prepare annual Vineyard Plans for each Vineyard to meet quality and cost goals
In association with Winemaker and Director of Production Finance & Accounting prepare annual expense and capital budgets
Grow viticultural talents within the team to ensure succession and individual team member growth

Vineyard Management

People & Team Management

Supervise the vineyard team across all estate vineyards spanning five AVAs, from Carneros to Howell Mountain
Hire, onboard, and train approximately 20 vineyard workers, including H2A teams currently sourced through Farm Labor Contractors
Ensure all staff are properly trained and that vineyard activities are performed safely and to standard
Maintain flexible availability including weekends, holidays, and seasonal night duties during frost, spray, and harvest

Vineyard Operations

Direct all day-to-day field activities including pruning, tying, suckering, canopy management, fruit thinning, and harvest
Ensure all viticultural practices are executed consistently and in alignment with each wine tier's quality and budget targets
Oversee the safe and proper execution of all vineyard tasks across the estate

Pest, Nutrition & Soil

Manage the estate's pest control program, ensuring timely and effective interventions
Coordinate and direct spray applications, including writing work orders and ordering chemicals
Working alongside a vineyard consultant, monitor vine health and nutrition across all blocks
Coordinate tissue sampling to identify nutritional deficiencies and inform amendment decisions
Direct the application of soil amendments including compost, gypsum, and compost tea

Crop Tracking & Forecasting

Monitor all aspects of crop development throughout the growing season
Track phenological stages and produce reliable estimates of harvest dates
Forecast crop tonnage and communicate projections to the Winemaker to support wine program planning

Irrigation

Interpret data from Tule sensors and weather stations to assess vine water needs
Write and issue irrigation orders based on real-time field conditions across all vineyard sites

Reporting & Winemaker Liaison

Prepare and deliver weekly reports on all vineyard operations to the Winemaker
Collaborate closely with the Winemaker on fruit quality and quantity goals for each wine program
Assist with evaluations and recommendations for outside vineyard sources
Ensure all viticultural efforts remain aligned with the broader goals of the wine programs

Procurement & Vendors

Engage and oversee outside vendors and contractors in compliance with company policies
Order all necessary supplies and materials including trellis components, pesticides, and irrigation equipment
Ensure procurement decisions are cost-effective and meet the quality standards of the estate

Vineyard Compliance

Work with outside engineers to obtain the operations permits such as Erosion Control Plans for new Redevelopment Vineyards
Ensure compliance with Napa County Agricultural Commissioner regulations
Maintain precise records of all pesticides, fertilizer, cover crops, soil amendments, etc.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Viticulture, Plant Science, or related field, preferably with a focus in grape growing
Years of Experience: 15 or more years’ experience in vineyard management and grape growing, preferably for a luxury-focused estate operation exceeding 100 acres.
Proven leadership experience overseeing vineyard operations across multiple regions or properties, including Napa and Sonoma.
Deep knowledge of viticulture practices, including vineyard development, irrigation, canopy management, pest management, and premium wine grape production.
Experience collaborating cross-functionally with winemaking, operations, and executive leadership teams.
Strong strategic planning, labor management, and operational leadership skills with the ability to drive consistency and efficiency across vineyard operations.
Experience managing operating budgets, forecasting, and capital improvement projects.
Knowledge of sustainability programs, regulatory compliance, and vineyard safety standards.
Bilingual in Spanish and English
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
Possession of a QAL (Qualified Applicator License)
Experience with vineyard and winery technology platforms such as Tule, Ranch Systems, Vintrace, and other technical agriculture software.
Strong communication, analytical, and decision-making skills.
Ability to travel regularly between Napa and Sonoma vineyard properties.

Crimson Wine Group is committed to creating a workplace and culture that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion as part of what makes us a little different and a lot better. Our success is informed by the wide range of experiences and perspectives that our team brings to each of our wines – from vine to bottle and beyond. We encourage all applicants with a vision for creating a more equitable, inclusive and diverse wine industry to apply to join our team at Crimson Wine Group.

The projected (base) pay range for this position is $145K to $155K per year in addition to annual bonus.

The range is the projected compensation for this position, however the actual compensation offered may vary based on job-related factors such as (but not limited to) candidate qualifications, related experience and education, candidate work location and market data. Crimson Wine Group reserves the right to modify the pay range/rate at any time in the future.

Crimson Wine Group LTD

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