Winemaker

Constellation Brands•Soledad, CA

5h•Onsite

About The Position

This is a unique opportunity for a hybrid position of both hands-on production winemaking at Stonewall Winery, and Group Winemaking Responsibilities. This role will report to the Director of Winemaking TPWC and Group Winemaking and maintain a close working relationship with the Director of Winemaking & Operations at Stonewall Winery. The position of Winemaker is responsible for all day-to-day winemaking activities, ensuring the highest quality, image, and productivity in support of the winery’s strategic goals and the wine brands crafted there. This is a position that will work closely with other departments (Lab, Maintenance, Cellar, Vineyards) as well as sister CBI Operations wineries to meet the winemaking needs across multiple brands. The Group Winemaking responsibilities involve supporting and executing strategic efforts to enhance luxury brand building by creating standards of excellence, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, while maintaining style and brand integrity. The role drives innovation and delivers key objectives aligned with the strategic direction. It requires an understanding of the business of wine and the entire winemaking process across multiple winery sizes and quality tiers. A high level of leadership, problem-solving skills, and strong interpersonal skills are essential, along with the ability to collaborate and communicate effectively at all levels within the organization.

Requirements

B.S. Degree in Enology, Fermentation Science, Food Science, (micro) Biology, Chemistry or related field
5+ years’ experience in winemaking
Wine sensory knowledge
In-depth understanding of major aspects of Cellar, Lab, Bottling and Vineyard Operations, including impact of results
Intermediate knowledge of winemaking techniques and best viticultural practices
Thorough knowledge of local, state and federal government regulations, specifically TTB and state regulations on alcoholic beverage production, distribution and packaging
Computer proficient in Excel (intermediate to advanced), Access, Word and PowerPoint
Good organizational, planning, and presentation skills
Clear commitment to high quality and attention to details
Able to work independently with minimum supervision
Process and SOP development
Ability to work cross functionally and take direction and feedback from multiple teams and departments
Must be at least 21 years of age

Nice To Haves

2 -3 + years of supervisory experience
Able to organoleptically evaluate wines and spirits
Wine Management Data Base, Vintrace winery software
Spanish proficiency
Project management and process improvement

Responsibilities

Help plan, execute, and monitor all winemaking production activities to ensure quality and compliance
Participate in winery tastings, providing input on wine evaluation and blending decisions
Oversee cellar operations, scheduling, and work order management to meet production goals
Taste, evaluate, and create blends and trials to achieve stylistic and cost objectives across all wine tiers
Manage the logistics of aging, blending, finishing, and storage of bulk wines
Track fermentation progress during harvest and direct winemaking adjustments as needed
Assess vineyard fruit development across the central coast and assist with harvest scheduling
Ensure accurate record keeping and compliance with Federal, State, and TTB regulations
Coordinate winemaking activities with both other internal and external facilities as required
High level of communication and planning is required with North Coast Winemaking teams
Adhere to safety standards to protect personnel, equipment, and the environment
Represent the winery in tastings, tours, and educational events
Work with Winemakers and Operations leaders to scope and drive initiatives across US winemaking operations, facilitating knowledge sharing and best practice adoption across teams
Manage CBI Oak programs, including network capacity planning, supporting used barrel management across Wine and Spirits, and overseeing the new barrel purchasing process for all wineries
Develop, document, and implement new processes, trials, and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Help translate strategic plans into clear, actionable tasks and deliverables, ensuring timely and effective execution
Lead meetings and communicate effectively with stakeholders at all organizational levels to ensure alignment and progress
Provide best-in-class customer service to key stakeholders, delivering actions that support and add value
Build and maintain strategic relationships to optimize information flow and enhance operational performance
Collaborate with vendors to leverage technology solutions and understand equipment and process opportunities
Prioritize workload effectively in a hybrid role balancing winery/winemaking responsibility with project work to meet Group Winemaking expectations