Vineyard Worker

Job description

Winemaking Grapes is only crop. Ability to plant, prune, train vines, weed, harvest grapes, maintain fencing and trellis. Operate tractor, forklift, maintain netting, till, minor maintenance of tractor, forklift, tiller, and trailer, maintain drip system, take soil samples, vineyard cleaning, make plantable stems, remove non-performing plants. Willingness to learn, team oriented. Ability to work outside in high and/or freezing temperatures. Assist viticulturalist with pest and disease management, and moisture status of vines.

Vineyard Management: •
Jan-April: Training and pruning vines; repairing water drip system, readying materials for additional trellis buildout,
engaging in trellis buildout, grape planting; Cluster management, shoot management and canopy management.
• May- August: Weeding, mowing, watering, daily check of ground moisture, trellis maintenance, trimming grapevines; Cluster management, shoot management and canopy management. As fruit ripens, efforts include maturity checks, testing fruit for ripeness. Spray management to help protect vines and provide nutrients.
• Sept - Oct: Hand harvesting of ~ 20 acres of vineyards. Assists in scheduling and coordination of harvest team. Engage in winterizing activities of vineyard and vineyard implements.
• Jan - Oct: Operate and maintain tractor, tiller, forklift as necessary, maintain water drip system and make repairs as necessary.

Special Requirements

Applicants must be able to work outside in extreme heat or cold temperatures and be physically capable of lifting 50 lbs, frequent stooping/ bending, lots of walking in vineyards and repetitive movements during harvest. Training provided as deemed necessary.