Benefits:
- Competitive salary plus benefits.
- Medical (75% covered by company) and Dental Insurance is available
- Paid Vacation and Sick (pending waiting period)
- 401k Matching
- Employee discounts
Job Description:
Are you ready to get your feet sticky, your hands purple, and your taste buds tantalized? Then we've got the perfect job for you working with and learning about wine as a Cellar Hand.
As a Cellar Hand, you'll be an integral part of the winemaking process and will have the opportunity to gain valuable gain hands-on and first-hand experience alongside our experienced winemaker and winemaking team as they turn grapes into liquid gold.
We are looking for a highly motivated individual who is passionate about wine, is eager for knowledge, and can work well with a team.
This is a full-time position that requires someone who can follow directions, take initiative, and be willing to get dirty. This person should feel comfortable working with a team, as well as on their own, and understand that attention to detail and communication is the key to ongoing success.
Please note that this location is about 40 minutes from City of Prosser or 60 minutes from Tri-Cities.
Core Responsibilities (included but not limited to):
- Communicate clearly and concisely with Production Leads and Production Supervisors.
- Follow all written and verbal Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) and adhere to all safe cellar practices.
- Maintain and use proper PPE at all times.
- Assist in the daily tank and barrel rounds checking and recording Brix and temperature
- Assist in cellar activities including but not limited to grape evaluation, pump-overs, pomace shoveling, juice/wine additions, and cellar sanitation
- Update, create and maintain various Excel spreadsheets daily
- Provide necessary assistance to winemaking and lab staff as needed
- Participate in and track harvest experiments in accordance with winemaking staff directions
- Complete all written and verbal assignments as directed
- Understand and adhere to all safety policies and procedures
- Complete all safety training related to scissor forklifts and confined spaces
- Assist Operators in setting up equipment, pumping grapes and wine to tanks and barrels, chemical additions, sanitation, and other cellar work as needed
- Operate presses or other winery equipment
- Responsible for the various duties relating to the completion of work orders, safety checks, wine processes, reporting off standards, wash down and clean up, performing specified equipment maintenance, and sanitizing work area
- Maintain a positive relationship encouraging strong communication and teamwork
- Handle and apply hazardous chemicals following all safety guidelines
- A significant amount of overtime is required during heavy production periods and some shift work may be required
- Maintain order and cleanliness in lab work areas
- Operate manual kegging line
- Assisting shift lead with facility startup and shutdown
- Assist in Tasting Room and vineyard tours as needed.
- Heavy physical labor is necessary
- Able to pull 60 lbs. on the cellar floor, turn empty barrels, set barrels on pallets, and shovel pumice
- Able to work on concrete floors all shift
- Able to work in confined space
Working Conditions:
- During Harvest (August-November) Day or night shift, up to 60 hours a week
- Varying temperatures
- Work as a team or independently
- Often fast-paced
- Physical labor
- Sometimes wet conditions
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to lift 60 pounds
- Walk several miles a day over a concrete floor
- Ability to operate a forklift
- Perform repetitive tasks
- Frequently climb stairs and walk across elevated catwalks
- Must be able to work extended hours (10-hour shifts 6 days per week) in hot and cold conditions
- Must be able to walk across wet concrete and step over hoses
- Intermittent work outside in varying weather conditions
Qualifications:
- Minimum age requirement of 21 when working in winemaking
- HS Diploma or GED Equivalent, current enrollment in, or possess a degree or certificate in enology, viticulture, or related field preferred
- Must have a passion for wine, and a desire to work in a motivated team environment
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and time management skills
- Must possess strong organizational skills, work well independently with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail
- Familiar with Microsoft Office Suite, proficiency with Excel highly preferred
- Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English fluently
- History of responsible and appropriate conduct
- Fit and able to be licensed, permitted, and/or certified by state and/or local regulatory bodies as needed
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $17.00 - $20.00 per hour
Expected hours: 32 – 40 per week
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Vision insurance
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Preferred)
Experience:
- Wine or Winery: 1 year (Required)
Language:
- English (Required)
- Spanish (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Prosser, WA 99350 (Required)
Work Location: In person