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Winemaker Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Seasonal Winemaker

Geyserville, CA ยท On-site

$28 - $35/hr

The Harvest Winemaker is a winemaking role based out of Rack & Riddle's Geyserville (GV) facility. This position serves as support for Charmat sparkling winemaking team's production, canning ...

Concentrate Winemaker - Fresno

Fresno, CA ยท On-site

$107K - $160K/yr

JOB SUMMARY The Concentrate Winemaker is responsible for overseeing the production of grape juice concentrates and bulk juice products. This role manages formulation, fermentation, blending, and ...

Enologist - Ripon

Ripon, CA ยท On-site

$70K - $81K/yr

The Wine Group (TWG) is a leading producer of award-winning wines and alcoholic beverages across 120+ brands. With operations in California, New York and Australia, TWG is an innovator in developing ...

Concentrate Winemaker - Fresno

Fresno, CA ยท On-site

$107K - $160K/yr

The Wine Group (TWG) is a leading producer of award-winning wines and alcoholic beverages across 120+ brands. With operations in California, New York and Australia, TWG is an innovator in developing ...

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Harvest Winemaking Assistant Join the team and support luxury winemaking during the harvest season. This role assists with harvest planning, fermentation monitoring, wine and juice movement tracking ...

At Oliver Winery, you'll be part of the team thatcrafts the award-winning wines that are poured, bottled, and enjoyed by wine lovers across the country. From fermentation to finishing touches, your ...

At Oliver Winery, you'll be part of the team that crafts the award-winning wines that are poured, bottled, and enjoyed by wine lovers across the country. From fermentation to finishing touches, your ...

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Winemaker information

See salary details

$11K

$65.2K

$118K

How much do winemaker jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for winemaker in the United States is $65,188.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $36,000.00 and $93,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is it hard to get a job at a winery?

Securing a winemaker position can be competitive, often requiring relevant experience, a strong understanding of viticulture and enology, and sometimes formal education or certifications. Entry-level roles may be easier to obtain, but advancing typically involves gaining practical skills and industry knowledge over time.

What does a winemaker do?

A winemaker, also known as a vintner or enologist, is responsible for overseeing the entire wine production process, from selecting grapes to bottling the final product. Their duties include monitoring fermentation, blending wines, ensuring quality control, and collaborating with vineyard staff. Winemakers use their expertise to influence the flavor, aroma, and quality of the wine, making key decisions at every stage. They also stay up to date with industry trends and regulations to maintain high standards.

What are the highest paying wine jobs?

High-paying wine jobs include senior roles such as winemaker, vineyard director, and wine director, often requiring extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership skills. These positions typically offer higher salaries due to their responsibility for production quality, business management, and strategic decision-making within wineries or wine companies.

What is the 75 rule for wine?

The 75 rule in winemaking refers to the guideline that a wine should contain at least 75% of its primary grape variety to be labeled as that varietal. This helps ensure wine authenticity and consistency, and winemakers often use tools like lab analysis and sensory evaluation to meet this standard.

What is the difference between Winemaker vs Viticulturist?

AspectWinemakerViticulturist
CredentialsEnology degree or wine-related certificationsViticulture or agriculture degree, viticulture certifications
Work EnvironmentWinery production facilities, tasting roomsVineyards, outdoor fields, research stations
Industry UsageResponsible for wine production, blending, agingFocuses on grape growing, vineyard management
Common Search/ComparisonOften compared for roles in wine creationRelated but more focused on grape cultivation

While both Winemakers and Viticulturists work closely in the wine industry, Winemakers oversee the entire wine production process, including fermentation and aging, often working indoors in wineries. Viticulturists specialize in grape growing, managing vineyard health and grape quality outdoors. Both roles require relevant degrees and certifications, but their focus areas differ significantly, making them complementary roles in wine production.

What are some common challenges winemakers face during the production process and how are they typically addressed?

Winemakers often encounter challenges such as unpredictable weather affecting grape quality, managing fermentation issues, and maintaining consistency across vintages. To address these, they closely monitor weather patterns, use advanced testing during fermentation, and blend wines from different batches to achieve desired profiles. Collaboration with vineyard managers, cellar staff, and quality control teams is essential to troubleshoot issues quickly and ensure the final product meets quality standards.

Do winemakers make a lot of money?

Winemakers' salaries vary depending on experience, location, and the size of the winery, but generally, they earn a moderate income. Entry-level winemakers may earn around $40,000 to $60,000 annually, while experienced professionals or those in high-end wineries can earn over $100,000. Skills in viticulture, fermentation, and wine production are important for higher earning potential.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Winemaker, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Winemaker, you need expertise in viticulture, fermentation science, sensory analysis, and typically a degree in enology or a related field. Familiarity with laboratory analysis tools, fermentation tanks, and industry software like Vintrace or InnoVint is essential. Strong attention to detail, creativity, and effective communication help in managing teams and collaborating with growers and marketers. These skills ensure consistent wine quality, efficient production, and the ability to adapt to market trends and environmental changes.

What Do Winemakers Do?

Often referred to as an art, winemaking begins with the planting of grapes and ends with the bottling and aging of wine. A winemaker oversees the different types of vines that are planted, follows the growing and harvest closely, and chooses only the best fruit for wine. When they are not in the fields inspecting grapes, a winemaker is in the winery overseeing production, equipment, and employees. When the harvest comes in, they ensure that the grapes are crushed and the juice is properly moved to barrels or fermentation tanks. After fermentation, they oversee the bottling of the wine and storage for any further aging.

What cities are hiring for Winemaker jobs? Cities with the most Winemaker job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Winemaker jobs? The most popular types of Winemaker jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Winemaker jobs? The top employers for Winemaker jobs are:
What states have the most Winemaker jobs? States with the most job openings for Winemaker jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Winemaker jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Winemaker jobs are:
What are popular job titles related to Winemaker jobs? For Winemaker jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Winemaker job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 2% Temporary. Highlights an 98% Physical, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,188 per year, or $31.3 per hour.

Seasonal Winemaker

Rack and Riddle

Geyserville, CA โ€ข On-site

$28 - $35/hr

Temporary

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

Description
Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services, the #1 custom sparkling wine producer in the United States, is seeking to add a Seasonal Winemaker to our team.
The Harvest Winemaker is a winemaking role based out of Rack & Riddle's Geyserville (GV) facility. This position serves as support for Charmat sparkling winemaking team's production, canning operations, and flavored wine programs.
This position coordinates the day-to-day workload for lab and cellar at GV and communicates wine preparation for Planning, Production, and QA teams regarding Charmat, canning, and flavored wine production.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Charmat Production - GV
โ€ข Write Vintrace work orders for inoculation, dosage, and final bottling prep
โ€ข Monitor fermentation development
โ€ข Verify lab analysis to specifications
โ€ข Audit completed work orders for correct Lot IDs, tank measurements, and gallons
โ€ข Scan work orders to Data Entry
Canning & Bottling Operations
โ€ข Write Vintrace work orders for client additions and canning prep
โ€ข Verify lab analysis to specifications
โ€ข Verify spec sheets submitted by clients
โ€ข Scan work orders to Data Entry
Cross-Functional Collaboration
โ€ข Collaborate closely with the Winemaking, Cellar, Planning, Production, Lab and QC teams at GV to ensure winemaking requirements are communicated back to the Lead Winemaker
โ€ข Promote teamwork
โ€ข Adhere to all safety practices, SOPs, Rack and Riddle's winemaking protocols and company policies
โ€ข Learn data entry and collaborate with our Data Entry & Winemaking Assistant
โ€ข Other tasks assigned by management
Requirements
A successful candidates background includes:
โ€ข Completion of a degree or certificate program relating to enology, viticulture or related field.
โ€ข 5+ years of winemaking experience
โ€ข Ability to learn and adapt to changing conditions
โ€ข Ability to work safely and accurately in a fast-paced environment
โ€ข Must possess strong organizational skills as well as a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
โ€ข Proficiency in spreadsheets, word processing programs and general winemaking software (Vintrace preferred).
โ€ข Ability to work days and/or nights, and extended hours as needed dependent on production needs.