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.