Vineyard & Winery Technician
Paso Robles, CA
Halter Ranch Estate
Set along the western-most boundaries of Paso Robles, California, surrounded by the wild, and wide-open Santa Lucia Mountain Range of the Central Coast, Halter Ranch is a 2,700-acre nature estate dedicated to land, art, and legendary terroir-driven wine. Envisioned by Swiss entrepreneur, philanthropist, and world-leading land conservationist, Hansjörg Wyss, the estate is an homage to his mother, Alice, and a haven for the natural world to flourish and deliver exceptional, timeless wines.
Seeking
We are searching for a qualified individual to join our team in 2024. You would work as part of a small crew that participates in all aspects of vineyard and winery operations as listed below. This position reports to the Vineyard Manager and Assistant Winemaker.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Cellar/winery:
Cap management (pump-overs, punch-downs, delestage)
Crush pad duties (sorting, cleaning etc.)
Inoculations
Additions
Brix and temp reading
Drains
Racks
Digs
Barrel work (steaming, barreling down, racking out of barrels, forklifting barrels)
Cleaning/sanitizing
Bottling
Vineyard sampling
Ample training on real-time phenolic data (ran in-house)
Inclusion in tastings and exposure to a wide array of job duties within the winery
Ensures cellar cleanliness and organization, including cellar, tank, and equipment sanitation
Operates and instructs others on the safe use of cellar and vineyard equipment
Vineyard:
Operating equipment
Pruning
Tying
Shoot thinning
Lifting wires
Harvesting
Weed eating and use of small tools
Occasional help with livestock including but not limited to: feeding, monitoring, moving, and basic handling
Physical Requirements
Ability to stand and walk for long periods of time.
Must be able to lift 60+ pounds repeatedly.
Must be able to effectively stock wine, set up and break down tables, chairs and be able to utilize dolly cart and assist in moving heavy objects.
Days/Hours
This position is Monday-Friday, 7 AM - 3:30 PM for most of the year while not in harvest. During active harvest, from late August to November, expect to work six days a week. Halter Ranch always ensures you get one day off, and we usually do not crush on the weekends so those are usually lighter days. During the week we try to keep the days to 12-hour days (normal overtime rules apply; 1.5 times pay after 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week), and we have swing shifts a couple times a week where you may be asked to work from 9 AM - 9 PM or something similar, but not a full overnight shift.
Requirements
Must be able to lift 60lbs, kneel, bend, reach
Ability to pull and push 100lbs at least 20 feet
Must be able to stand for prolonged periods
Must have experience operating heavy equipment and the ability to learn
General understanding of winery practices and infrastructure
Strong analytical and math skills
Excellent communication skills, written and verbal
Able to multi-task effectively
Detail-oriented and organized
Ability to drive a forklift and become forklift-certified
Required to take two 10-minute breaks in a typical 8-hour work day
No cell phone usage except on breaks
Want to join the Halter team?
To apply submit a resume and cover letter to: Human Resources Manager, Michelle Robles: michelle@halterranch.com. This is a full-time position with a commitment to work the schedule as stated above. Pay Range: $19-$22 per hour. We offer an excellent benefits package including medical, dental and vision, life insurance, generous PTO, retirement, employee discounts, and more.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion and belonging at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Halter Ranch will make reasonable accommodations under applicable law for qualified individuals to enable them to perform the essential functions of the job, unless doing so would create an undue hardship for the Company.