Assistant Winemaker / Cellar Master (Production)
La Vigneta Winery – Sarver, PA
Pay: $18 – $19 per hour depending on experience
Schedule: Full-time
Read This Before Applying
This is a hands-on production cellar position involving pumps, hoses, tank cleaning, sanitation, wine testing, and detailed record keeping.
Much of the job involves cleaning equipment, moving wine, and maintaining a spotless cellar.
If you enjoy working with your hands, operating equipment, solving problems, and producing quality wine, this may be a great fit.
If you are looking for a job where you mostly taste wine and talk about wine, this is not the role.
Responsibilities Cellar Operations
- Operate winery pumps, hoses, and valves to move wine between tanks
- Perform rackings, transfers, blending, and filtration
- Monitor fermentations and tank conditions
- Prepare wines for bottling
Tank Cleaning & Sanitation
- Clean and sanitize tanks, hoses, pumps, and winery equipment
- Mix and safely handle winery sanitation chemicals
- Maintain strict sanitation standards in all production areas
- Keep the cellar organized and production-ready
Wine Testing
Perform routine wine analysis including:
- pH
- Free and Total SO₂
- Alcohol testing
- Temperature monitoring
Record results and report issues as needed.
Production Records
- Maintain accurate batch records and cellar logs
- Track wine movements, additions, and treatments
- Ensure traceability for all production batches
General Production Work
- Move hoses, tanks, and production equipment
- Assist with bottling and packaging
- Support juice intake and fermentation management
- Handle day-to-day cellar tasks as needed
Physical Requirements
This is a physically demanding production job.
You must be able to:
- Lift 50+ pounds regularly
- Work on your feet most of the day
- Climb ladders and work on top of tanks
- Work in wet, cold, or humid cellar environments
- Handle heavy hoses and production equipment
Expect to get wet, dirty, and tired some days.
Qualifications
- Experience in winery, brewery, food production, or fermentation production
- Comfortable working with pumps, hoses, tanks, and cellar equipment
- Basic understanding of wine chemistry testing
- Strong attention to cleanliness and sanitation
- Detail-oriented with accurate production record keeping
- Reliable, hardworking, and self-motivated
The Right Person for This Job
The right candidate takes pride in:
- A clean cellar
- Well-maintained equipment
- Accurate records
- Consistent wine quality
Great wine is not made by accident. It is made through discipline, sanitation, and attention to detail.
To apply:
Please include a short note describing your experience working with pumps, tank sanitation, or fermentation production.
Pay: $18.00 - $19.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person