Seasonal Grower Relations Intern - Fresno

The Wine Group•Fresno, CA

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Wine Group’s Grower Relations Intern supports vineyard operations, grower communications, and harvest coordination under the supervision of the Department Head and Grower Relations Senior Representatives. This six-month, hands-on internship provides practical exposure to commercial viticulture and winery grower relations in California’s Central Valley, from early summer through harvest. The role is intended for people pursuing careers in viticulture, enology or winemaking, or agricultural management, and is expected to begin in June. The intern also completes a season-long project connecting vineyard operations, grower relations, and winemaking objectives. The intern may propose a project idea for approval by a Grower Relations Senior Representative and relevant stakeholders, provides periodic progress updates, and delivers a final written and/or oral presentation describing the project’s objectives, methods, results, challenges, and key learnings. Work is primarily in Central Valley vineyards, with some time in winery and office environments. The position involves outdoor work in varying conditions, travel between vineyard locations, and possible exposure to agricultural chemicals and heavy or loud machinery, subject to applicable safety regulations and training. Summer heat may be significant. Schedules may include early mornings, weekends, and extended hours during critical vineyard and harvest periods. The posted hourly pay rate is $24.00.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Must be at least 21 years old at the start of employment.
Interest in vineyard operations, grower relations, and wine grape production.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
Strong attention to detail and ability to collect, organize, and accurately record data.
Ability to prioritize, meet deadlines accurately, and work with minimal supervision.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team, exercising sound judgment and discretion.
Valid driver’s license and reliable personal transportation; mileage is reimbursed, and a company vehicle is not provided.
Willingness to work flexible hours during peak seasonal demands, including harvest.

Nice To Haves

Current senior or recent graduate in Viticulture, Enology, Agricultural Science, or a related field.
Experience with GIS software.

Responsibilities

Assist with vineyard monitoring, including phenology tracking, vine health assessments, irrigation observations, and pest and disease scouting.
Maintain professional and timely communication with growers and vineyard managers.
Collect and process grape maturity samples and assist with basic fruit chemistry analysis, such as Brix and other applicable maturity metrics.
Create, maintain, and distribute a weekly maturity sampling schedule, coordinating timely sample collection, delivery, and reporting with vineyard teams and growers.
Participate in crop estimation, yield tracking, and harvest data collection.
Support harvest preparation and logistics, including scheduling, vineyard readiness checks, and coordination with winery personnel.
Maintain accurate vineyard and grower records, including irrigation observations, sampling results, crop estimates, and harvest metrics, using vineyard management software and/or spreadsheets.
Work with the winemaking team and external growers to align on grape maturity and harvest timing.
Participate in winemaking tastings when schedules permit to observe quality-control review and fermenter evaluation during harvest.
Complete a season-long project, provide periodic progress updates, and present the project’s outcomes at the end of the internship.
Support special vineyard or grower-related projects as assigned.
Comply with company safety policies, food safety standards, and regulatory requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of vineyard and winery operations.