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Winemaker Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Wine Group

Winemaker - Ripon

Ripon, CA · On-site

$97K - $121K/yr

JOB SUMMARY The Winemaker will report to the Senior Winemaker and will be directly responsible for the day-to-day winemaking and maintenance of wine quality, as well as directing and training the ...

Constellation Brands

Winemaker

Soledad, CA · On-site

Winery Summary Nestled in the heart of Monterey County's wine country, the Stonewall Winery produces some of the most popular Constellation Brands labels, includingUnshackled, Harvey and ...

Constellation Brands, Inc.

Winemaker

Soledad, CA · On-site

Winery Summary Nestled in the heart of Monterey County's wine country, the Stonewall Winery produces some of the most popular Constellation Brands labels, including Unshackled, Harvey and Harriet and ...

Constellation Brands

Winemaker

Soledad, CA · On-site

$100K - $153K/yr

Winery Summary Nestled in the heart of Monterey County's wine country, the Stonewall Winery produces some of the most popular Constellation Brands labels, including Unshackled, Harvey and Harriet and ...

twg

Concentrate Winemaker - Fresno

Fresno, CA · 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 ...

The Wine Group

Concentrate Winemaker - Fresno

Fresno, CA · 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 ...

Oliver Winery

Cellar Assistant I

Bloomington, IN · On-site

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 ...

Oliver Winery

Cellar Assistant I

Bloomington, IN

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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All JobsWinemaker Jobs

Winemaker information

See salary details

$11K

$65.2K

$118K

How much do winemaker jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 12, 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.

More about Winemaker jobs
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:
Winemaker jobs near you
Infographic showing various Winemaker job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 83% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 9% Temporary. Highlights an 96% Physical, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,188 per year, or $31.3 per hour.
Winemaker - Ripon

Winemaker - Ripon

The Wine Group

Ripon, CA • On-site

$97K - $121K/yr

Full-time

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

This position is posted both INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY.
If you are interested in being considered for this opportunity, we encourage you to fill out an application! A member of our Talent Acquisition Team will contact you.
Do you know someone outside of TWG who might be a good fit? Please share this opportunity with your connections through Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, or email by going to TWG's Job Opportunities page at www.thewinegroup.com/careers and selecting "Share" on each position's application. When prompted, ensure you choose to allow cookies to view the "Share" functionality. If someone you refer is hired and remains employed in good standing for 30 days, you may be eligible to receive a $1,000 referral bonus!
For any questions regarding this position, please email the Lead Recruiter for this search, Barry Hamory, barry.hamory@thewinegroup.com.
JOB SUMMARY
The Winemaker will report to the Senior Winemaker and will be directly responsible for the day-to-day winemaking and maintenance of wine quality, as well as directing and training the Assistant Winemaker/Enologist/Intern. Key areas of responsibility include support and facilitation between various production teams (including lab, winemaking, and cellar), ensuring priorities and protocols are achieved, cost effectiveness, accuracy, and safety to all performance standards. The Winemaker will have responsibility to make White, Red, or Rose wines destined for Domestic and Export Programs.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
  • Directly responsible for varietal winemaking from grape to bottle. Yearly varietal responsibility will be determined by Senior Winemaker and/or Director of Winemaking. Work with the Senior Winemaker or of Winemaking to develop varietal program guidelines. Ensure wines are meeting target sensory and analytical quality requirements.
  • Direct lab analysis based on wine needs. Must have strong analytical background to run analysis in lab techs absence, or when requested. Use lab results to be able to properly maintain wine quality.
  • Participates in short and long-term planning of finishing/blending wines for bottling at TWG bottling facilities and Export Customers. Set facility processing/blending priorities according to bottling demand. Ability to work and think clearly in a logistically complex and fast-paced environment. Demands can frequently change so flexibility is key.
  • Writes process orders for distribution to operations for completion.
  • Assist Senior Winemaker and winemaking team to write process orders, review process orders and approve prior to giving to operations team.
  • Complete blending/fining trials, or other experiments as directed.
  • Be able to taste wine at various levels of the winemaking process. Participates in tasting of fermenters, holdback samples against current bottling blends and new proposed wines. Taste inventory samples weekly upon completion of lab running the analysis. Verifies and maintains overall wine quality through different winemaking practices. Will require traveling to other TWG facilities when assistance is needed.
  • Work directly with the Vineyard Team to assess vine health and grape quality. Develop strategies to help improve incoming grape quality. Aid in decision-making process as to when fruit should be picked.
  • Complete blending/fining trials, or other experiments as deemed necessary by Winemaking or Production Departments.
  • Work with Senior Winemaker/Sr. Director of Winemaking and Operations Team on forecasting and ordering of winemaking supplies. Will play a role in developing winemaking material annual budget.
  • Assist Operations Team with oversight of Cellar Operations when needed. Direct work and staff to get job done efficiently while keeping wine quality in mind.
  • Key driver of all Safety policies and procedures for the site. This includes overseeing safety audits, incident investigations, implementation of Company-wide safety policies and relevant safety training. Contribute or be part of facility safety team. Must lead by example.
  • Key driver in setting and achieving Wine Quality standards, GMPs and Sanitation schedules.
  • Participates in development of new or restructuring of existing blends.
  • Attend seminars and classes for continual education.
  • In the absence of the Senior Winemaker, the Winemaker will need to fill in and cover the Senior Winemaker duties.
  • Exhibit reactive and proactive management. Ability to come up with why, when, and how something happened and solution to fixing the problem.
  • This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for their job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

OTHER FUNCTIONS
  • Must have complete understanding of enological process from grapes through blending. Exposure to a variety of winemaking methodology, wine styles, and winemaking processes.
  • Effectively participate on Team. Oversee and train Assistant Winemakers, Enologists, and Interns.
  • Speak well in front of groups. Represent brands and our company well.
  • Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Excellent Organoleptic skills at all stages of the winemaking process.
  • Excellent aptitude and knowledge of wines.
  • Large winery experience. Understanding of Winery Operations.
  • Ability to lead a department and manage team to overall success.
  • Ability to set priorities and work independently within set guidelines. Good time management skills.
  • Self-starter. Must be able to openly communicate with other departments.
  • Ability to multitask, work independently and with a team in a fast-paced, high-volume environment with emphasis on accuracy and timeliness.
  • Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills with attention to detail
  • Prepare weekly/monthly reports for Sr. Director of Winemaking regarding, but not limited to, wine processing, QA/QC, blend approval process, and forecasted volumes.
  • Attend seminars and classes for continual education.
  • Must embrace and demonstrate The Wine Group's Vision, Mission, and Values of: Long-Term Sustainable Value Creation, while being Relentlessly Entrepreneurial, with Empowered People who are Responsible and Trustworthy and keep them in mind when making all decisions.
  • This job description reflects management's assignment of general functions; it does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
  • Must be 21 or older at time of hire.
  • Must demonstrate leadership abilities. Proven track record of high integrity.
  • BS/BA in Enology/Viticulture, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Food Science, Microbiology, or equivalent education/work experience.
  • 7 years minimum from graduation, multi-site experience (minimum 2 sites including external).
  • Passionate about wine quality while understanding cost associated with processing to help make smart business decisions.
  • Good understanding of lab and wine processing equipment.
  • Comfortable in bargaining unit environments.
  • Adaptive and stable in changing environments.
  • Must get the big picture issues, without losing the eye for details.
  • Proven analytical thinker, complemented by subjectivity for proper decision making.
  • Proven resolution management skills.
  • Powerful oral and written communicator.
  • Keen listening skills.
  • Capable of managing multiple cross functional professionals.
  • Strong computer skills. Proficient in Excel.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
  • Ability to work at heights up to 45 feet.
  • Possess the ability to work in a fast-paced environment under pressure.
  • Working environment is both indoors and outdoors, with exposure to related equipment and noise levels.
  • Ability to perform tasks requiring bending, stooping, standing, and twisting in a production environment.

COMPENSATION
  • Hiring Salary Range Posted: $97,200 - $121,500.
  • Actual compensation will be based on factors such as experience, skills, knowledge, and abilities; education; and other position-related factors.

At The Wine Group, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristic protected by law.
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