Senior Winemaker

Clarendon Hills is an established and leading McLaren Vale winery dedicated to producing ultra premium wines that showcase the best of Blewitt Springs and McLaren Vale. We are passionate about sustainability, quality, and craftsmanship in every bottle. As part of our continued growth and commitment to excellence, we are looking for a highly skilled and experienced Senior Winemaker to join our dynamic team.

The Senior Winemaker will oversee and manage all aspects of the winemaking process from vineyard to bottle. This includes the day-to-day winemaking operations, vineyard liaison, fermentation management, blending, aging, and overseeing the annual bottling process. The role requires a deep understanding of viticulture, oenology, and production management, along with leadership capabilities to guide and mentor the winemaking team. The Senior Winemaker will play a key role in shaping the wine styles, quality, and production schedules in alignment with the winery's goals.

Key Responsibilities:

Winemaking & Production:

• Lead the winemaking process for all wines, including overseeing crushing, fermentation, maceration, pressing, aging, and racking.
• Develop and implement fermentation and aging protocols to maintain quality and consistency across vintages.
• Oversee the selection of barrels, tanks, and other vessels for fermentation and aging, ensuring appropriate use of materials for flavour profile development.
• Manage and monitor fermentation processes, including temperature control, yeast management, and monitoring of specific gravity and other metrics.
• Perform regular sensory evaluations to assess wine development and quality at various stages of production.
• Oversee the fining, stabilization and clarification processes, ensuring the highest standards for each wine.

Vineyard Liaison:

• Work closely with the vineyard management team to monitor grape quality and harvest timing, ensuring optimal grape ripeness and flavour profiles.
• Provide input on vineyard practices, such as canopy management, irrigation, and pest control, to enhance the overall quality of the fruit.
• Maintain strong relationships with grape growers and coordinate grape receival at harvest.

Blending & Quality Control:

• Contribute to the blending process, assisting in determining the optimal combinations of varietals and vineyard lots to create wines that reflect the winery's vision and style.
• Develop and maintain precise records of each wine's composition, and ensure consistency in quality across production cycles.
• Oversee the wine aging process, including determining the appropriate length of time for each wine to develop optimal complexity and balance.

Annual Bottling Process:

• Oversee the planning, preparation, and execution of the annual bottling process, ensuring the wines are packaged at the highest quality.
• Coordinate planning of overall bottling process including the procurement of all annually required bottles, DIAM, capsules and cartons.
• Ensure proper wine preparation before bottling to avoid spoilage or contamination.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Lead, mentor, and develop the winemaking team, providing guidance and training to junior winemakers, cellar staff, and assistants.
• Foster a collaborative and positive team culture focused on quality, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor and manage resources, including budgets, staffing, and materials, to ensure efficient and cost-effective production.

Research & Development:

• Stay current on industry trends, new winemaking techniques, and innovations to maintain and enhance the winery's winemaking practices.
• Conduct experiments and trials to improve wine quality, production efficiency, and sustainability practices.
• Implement sustainability initiatives in the winemaking process where feasible and in line with company goals.

Compliance & Reporting:

• Ensure all winemaking activities are compliant with local, state, and federal regulations, including health and safety standards.
• Maintain detailed records of production, including wine analysis, fermentation progress, and blending decisions for Wine Australia Label Integrity Program (LIP).
• Report directly to the CEO on production progress, challenges, and performance metrics.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Enology, Viticulture, or related field. Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) is a plus.
• Experience: At least 5-10 years of experience in winemaking, with a minimum of 3 years in a senior winemaking or leadership role.

• Technical Skills:

• Extensive knowledge of winemaking techniques, fermentation processes, blending, and aging.

• Proficiency in wine analysis, quality control, and sensory evaluation.
• Strong understanding of vineyard practices and their impact on wine quality.
• Familiarity with bottling and packaging processes.
• Experience in using wine production software and tools for record keeping and reporting.

• Leadership & Communication Skills:

• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and motivate a small team.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.

• Personal Attributes:

• A passion for quality winemaking and a deep respect for the craft.

• Creative problem solver with a hands-on approach to challenges.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Superannuation, Work Cover,
• 4 weeks paid vacation per annum and sick leave when required
• Opportunity for professional growth and development working alongside one of the most highly regarded modern Australian winemakers, Roman Bratasiuk, founder of Clarendon Hills.
• Discounted wine and product offerings
• Support for continuing education and industry events