Cellar Master

Vineburg Wine Company•Sonoma, CA

About The Position

The Cellar Master plays a senior leadership role overseeing all cellar operations, including tank, barrel, and bottling functions, to ensure the production of premium wines with uncompromising quality, efficiency, and safety. This position provides daily direction to cellar and bottling staff, supports harvest execution, leads bottling line operations, and partners closely with the Winemaker on production planning, quality control, and continuous improvement initiatives. The Cellar Master is responsible for maintaining operational excellence, equipment reliability, regulatory compliance, and team performance in a fast-paced, production-driven environment. This role requires independent judgment, advanced technical expertise, and supervisory responsibility.

Requirements

Minimum 5+ years of progressive experience in wine production.
At least 2 years in a supervisory or leadership role preferred.
Advanced knowledge of winemaking processes, fermentation management, cellar operations, and bottling systems.
Working knowledge of equipment troubleshooting and preventative maintenance programs.
Proven ability to lead teams, delegate effectively, and hold employees accountable.
Strong organizational and production planning skills.
Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with production, hospitality, vineyard, and leadership teams.
English proficiency required (reading, writing, speaking).
Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds regularly.
Ability to stand, bend, climb ladders, and work on feet for extended periods.
Ability to work in wet, cold, hot, noisy, and outdoor conditions.
Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
Work Schedule Flexibility: Ability to work flexible hours, particularly during harvest (August through November).

Nice To Haves

Spanish proficiency strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and supervise cellar teams across tank, barrel, and bottling operations.
Foster a culture of accountability, safety, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
Develop and assign daily and weekly work orders aligned with production schedules.
Provide hands-on training, coaching, and performance feedback.
Participate in performance evaluations, hiring input, corrective action, and discipline in partnership with the Winemaker and HR.
Ensure adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), safety policies, and quality standards.
Oversee tank room activities including fermentation management, pump-overs, filtration, blending prep, and bottling tank readiness.
Manage barrel room operations including racking, topping, barrel prep, sanitation, heating/cooling systems, and inventory control.
Coordinate crush logistics during harvest, including fruit receival and press operations.
Supervise operation and care of key equipment including presses (Willmes, Diemme), Pellenc equipment, optical sorters, pumps, and related cellar infrastructure.
Coordinate barrel receival, storage, maintenance, and shipping across production sites.
Maintain accurate wine tracking, inventory records, and production documentation.
Act as lead operator on the bottling line, ensuring proper setup, sanitation, operation, and breakdown.
Monitor bottling line performance and adjust equipment as needed to minimize downtime and maintain quality standards.
Coordinate with the production team to ensure materials (glass, corks, labels, cartons) are staged and prepared.
Position and direct bottling line staff for efficiency and safety.
Train and guide temporary bottling crew members on operational best practices and safety protocols.
Maintain cleanliness, organization, and food-safety standards in bottling areas.
Assist with bottling work orders, quality control checks, and recordkeeping.
Identify mechanical or quality issues and coordinate promptly with maintenance and leadership.
Monitor fermentation, blending, and stabilization processes to ensure wine quality and compliance with production standards.
Partner with the Winemaker to troubleshoot quality or operational issues.
Participate in planning meetings and quality management initiatives.
Ensure compliance with TTB, OSHA, Cal/OSHA, and applicable food safety standards.
Maintain accurate documentation of additives, treatments, and production records.
Lead preventative maintenance programs for pumps, hoses, glycol systems, compressors, boilers, presses, and bottling equipment.
Ensure cellar spaces remain organized, safe, and audit-ready.
Oversee shipping and receiving of production materials.
Coordinate maintenance priorities to minimize operational downtime.
Enforce compliance with Cal/OSHA safety regulations and company safety programs.
Promote safe equipment handling, confined space awareness, chemical safety, and sanitation practices.
Immediately address unsafe conditions and escalate concerns appropriately.
Participate in safety meetings and incident investigations as needed.