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Location

Benton City, WA | United States

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Job description

Job Description:

Hedges Family Estate is a family owned and operated winery on Red Mountain that promotes Biodynamic, regenerative agriculture, and biodynamic winemaking. Hedges Family Estate’s message of terroir focused wines, responsible farming, and creating a joyful and meaningful experience for its customers has been spread across the globe since 1987. The winemaking position is an integral part of the story of Hedges and its philosophy of continuous improvement in all parts of the company.

This position involves the management of the winemaking facility and reports to the Director of Winemaking and Winery Operations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
•  Oversee daily winemaking operations.
•  Manage a top cellar team and maintain company culture while fostering a sense of teamwork.
•  Plan, manage, and implement a schedule to ensure deadlines are met.
•  Comply with all applicable health and safety regulations and communicate these with the staff.
•  Manage and maintain winery lab for routine analysis of wine, tasting set-ups, pre and post bottling analysis.
•  Assist Director of Winemaking and Winery Operations on technical and stylistic decisions necessary to produce the highest quality in wine in keeping with the company’s biodynamic winemaking philosophies.
•  Recommend new methods, equipment and procedures to improve operating efficiency and wine quality.
•  Utilize critical winemaking skills to monitor fermentations by taste and analysis.
•  Collaborate with Director of Winemaking and Winery Operations on fermentation, blending, and filtering decisions.
•  Communicate projects clearly to production staff through written work orders.
•  Maintain accurate records all all cellar operations and provide records to Director of Winemaking and Winery Operations for entry into winemaking database system.
•  Remain current on all aspects of winemaking operations in order to make critical and independent decisions.
•  Regular reporting and timely communication to the Director of Winemaking and Winery Operations regarding winemaking performance and operational activities, especially any QC issues.
•  Maintain all cellar, crush and bottling equipment on schedule, including HVAC systems, glycol systems, hot water systems, and forklifts.
•  Ensure a continuously clean cellar, crush pad and surrounding areas.
•  Ensure sanitation protocols are maintained.
•  Perform cellar operations as needed during peak periods, including, but not limited to: Sanitation, Barrel preparation, barrel maintenance, operating crush equipment, bottling, filtration, forklift operations, and equipment maintenance.
•  Ordering of gasses and materials needed to keep cellar and bottling line operating (i.e. oxarc gasses, citric acid, proxy clean, SO2, bottling line parts, filters, tape, stretch wrap etc…).
•  Support in assessment of grape quality and maturity with Director of Winemaking and Winery Operations to determine best pick date. Coordinate pick date with Vineyard Manager.
•  Manage QC for Hedges Family Estate on-site bottling line. Responsible for oversight of bottling line operation and its maintenance.
•  Hire and train harvest interns.
•  Provide safe and healthy working conditions at all times.
•  Participate in PR/marketing activities as requested.
•  Represent winery at wine-related functions as needed and requested.
•  Other responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFYING SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
•  Bachelor’s degree in fermentation science or related skill preferable
•  Minimum 8 years winery experience, 4 supervising production staff and making independent decisions
•  Skilled tasting palate, with ability to recognize minute differences in wines, including wine faults
•  Understanding of vineyard management practices and their effect on wine
•  Understanding of basic maintenance of equipment, including proficiency of diagnosing equipment issues and parts ordering
•  Excellent written and oral communication skills
•  Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
•  High level of proficiency with MS Office programs including word, Excel, and Outlook
•  Ability to work independently and in a team environment
•  Forklift operation
•  Knowledge of Biodynamic farming and Biodynamic winemaking a plus

ATTITUDE AND ABILITIES
•  Enthusiastic ambassador for Hedges Family Estate
•  Strong attention to detail
•  Leadership skills including ability to engage and motivate others
•  Commitment to excellence
•  High standards with regard to winery physical appearance and cleanliness
•  Flexibility and the ability to work in a dynamic work environment
•  Professional demeanor
•  Enthusiasm, focus, creativity, and a positive outlook even during difficult work situations
•  Ability to resolve conflicts in a mature, calm, and professional manner

BENEFITS
•  10 paid holidays
•  Vacation and Sick Time
•  Profit sharing
•  Comprehensive health benefits: Medical, Dental and Vision
•  401k match after 1 year of employment
•  Employee discounts

Salary Range: DOE

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