Operations Enologist

Gloria Ferrer Winery • Full-time • Sonoma, California, United States • $80k - $95k / year • 1d ago

Discover Gloria Ferrer Winery, where it’s more than a wine, it’s a feeling!

Find your place at Gloria Ferrer, where our vineyards stretch over 300 acres of Estate Vineyards in the stunning Los Carneros region of Sonoma. Whether you're passionate about viticulture, a hospitality expert, or a pro in production, Gloria Ferrer offers an energetic and forward-thinking environment that values fun, creativity, and a shared love for exceptional wines.

At Gloria Ferrer, every role is important to our success and every day presents a chance to innovate, grow, and enjoy the fruits of our labor, quite literally! We pride ourselves on being a community that stays true to its roots, commits to sustainability, embraces innovation, and fosters a culture grounded in respect, integrity, passion and excellence. At Gloria Ferrer we laugh together, work hard together, and raise a glass together.

SUMMARY

The Operations Enologist will play an important role within the winemaking and production teams, working closely with the Winemaker and Director of Winery Operations. This position involves cross-departmental collaboration, including regular interactions with the production team, cellar, and lab staff, ensuring a cohesive operational flow. Key responsibilities include the management of daily workflows, generation and oversight of work orders, operational management to meet production requirements and scheduling, maintaining records of all internal wine movements, and thorough analysis of QA/QC control data. The Operations Enologist will also maintain bulk, packaging, and finished goods inventory, coordinate the ordering of packaging materials in conjunction with the Director of Winery Operations, and execute scheduling based on production workflow and dry goods timelines. Other responsibilities include monthly reporting & record keeping, and participation in our safety programs. The Operations Enologist manages production and helps reach the desired metrics to ensure efficiency and productivity.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Draft, review, verify all work orders from the winemaking department to ensure adherence to specified timelines and compliance requirements. Interface with the cellar and production teams, addressing any queries to facilitate smooth operations.
Creates and maintains supply models and projections, assists in procurement and inventory management of packaging supplies. Supports and guides the importation of glass and other packaging elements.
Create month-end inventory and production completion reports for Finance Department.
Coordinate with the Director of Winery Operations and Winemaker to execute all scheduled operational duties, elevating concerns ahead of production to ensure no lost time in scheduling.
Responsible for oversight of QC of wine & packaging materials, conduct audits of daily QA/QC records for tirage and disgorging processes, and proactively address and escalate concerns to the Winemaker and Director of Winery Operations.
Actively participates in blending sessions, ensuring the accuracy of all technical data before tirage and disgorging processes. Works directly with the Cellar Lead, Senior Lab Technician, and Director of Winery Operations to ensure adherence to the tirage and disgorging schedule.
Perform detailed inventory checks using Inno Vint, ensuring accuracy and compliance with both winery standards and external regulations, and Acts as interface with winemaking to complete month end & year end audits of bulk inventory.
Responsible for identifying, documenting, and monitoring winemaking experiments designed to improve product quality and innovate processes.
Tracks, executes and oversees the dosage preparation for wines, including tastings and elevates tracking of dosage liqueur volumes to meet production demands.
Plan and manage the monthly schedule for barrel maintenance, including gassing and washing, in collaboration with the Cellar Lead and Director of Winery Operations.
Responsible for collecting samples from tanks and barrels for tastings and analysis, assembling trial blends, and managing the setup and breakdown of production tastings.
Responsible for developing and maintaining a monthly analysis schedule to ensure timely performance of necessary tests. Verifies the accuracy of all information produced in the laboratory in accordance with winemaking protocols. Promptly reports any concerns or discrepancies to the winemaker.
Manages all fermentation activities during harvest, adhering to specified protocols, conducting daily tastings to monitor fermentation progress, and issuing necessary remediation work orders to the cellar team.
Collaborate with the Winemaker to audit and continuously develop winemaking protocols, ensuring both sparkling and still wine production meets the highest standards of quality.

Other Responsibilities

Serve as a safety ambassador, exemplifying best practices and promoting a culture of safety across departments to influence and inspire peers.
Performs harvest duties as determined by the Director of Winery Operations and the Winemaker. These duties may differ significantly from normal year-round responsibilities.
Ensure that the Gloria Ferrer Culture is consistently supported in all business and employee interactions. Including ethical and legal aspects, compliant with state and federal law and GF policies and procedures.
Other duties as assigned, adapting to evolving business needs.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Must be a team player and able to prioritize safety, sustainability, and quality.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university; or one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Must have coursework in analytical chemistry or industrial experience, or industry experience with wine chemistry and microbiology.
A minimum of 2 years of winery lab experience.
Strong knowledge of winemaking processes and laboratory processes.
Ability to manipulate laboratory equipment and to use measurements instruments accurately.
Knowledge of performance and characteristics of bottling lines and packaging requirements.
Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to deal effectively with a diversity of internal and external customers.
Good judgment, versatility, flexibility, and willingness to work within constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm. Acute attention to detail.
Computer proficiency in MS Office, Inno Vint and AMS experience a plus.
Must have a valid driver’s license for vineyard travel.
Spanish skills helpful.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, and listen. The employee frequently uses hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms.

Must be able to work outdoors in extremes conditions, including heat, humidity, cold, and other inclement weather.
Must be capable of walking on uneven terrain.
Must be able to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 lbs.
Must possess visual acuity sufficient to drive safely, recognize employees, distinguish different colors (including subtle color variations in wine and lab samples) and work on computers for extended periods.
Must have a refined sense of smell and taste to evaluate wine quality, detect faults, and contribute to sensory analysis.
Must be able to work extended hours as needed.
Must be able to endure repeated use of hands and sustain long periods of standing, sitting, walking and bending.

GENEROUS BENEFITS OFFERED