Estate Winemaker - Full Time

Rio Grande Winery, is located just outside of Las Cruces, in the heart of the Mesilla Valley, New Mexico. We have a commitment to Mesilla Valley and the history of the Rio Grande. We are farmers, winemakers, and storytellers, focused on creating the very best selection you can find in the oldest wine region in America. Let the story continue with one another.

Are you looking for a role where you will be exposed to all aspects of the lifecycle of wine, encouraged to learn, while having a mentor and room to grow within a company?

Reporting directly to the owners, the Estate Winemaker position is a hands-on vineyard to bottle role, managing day-to-day winemaking operations and overseeing vineyard operations.

What is New Mexico wine? Join our team as we take the journey to find out.

Vineyard - 20%
Focusing on quality grape production at our 10 acre estate vineyard at the winery, and our 20 acre vineyard located 5 miles away. Working with the Vineyard Manager, to oversee timely execution of vineyard duties throughout the growing season, including but not limited to;
- Pruning
- Vine Planting/Training
- Suckering
- Light tractor work
- Irrigation management
- Grape maturity sampling
- Scheduling harvest dates
- Supervising picking crews

Cellar/Winemaking - 70%
Complete grape to bottle, including but not limited to;
- Planning picking dates and scheduling grape receival
- Processing grapes upon receival
- Tank and ferment management
- Daily wine analysis and fermentation tracking
- Barrel sampling
- Racking, filling and stacking barrels
- Cleaning and sanitation
- Tasting/Blending
- Competitive Sets
- Filtering
- Bottle prep and bottling
- Daily record keeping
- Inventory management for monthly reporting
- Special Projects

Wholesale Sales - 5%
- Maintaining local wholesale accounts
- Exploring new accounts in the local Las Cruces area

Events - 5%
- Represent winery providing educational experiences with the wines at events as needed

Desired Experience
- Possess a passion for wine
- Experience working 3-5 harvests
- Quality focused
- Able to work independently with minimal supervision
- Computer skills - Google docs, sheets, slack, InnoVint
- Strong forklift skills
- Basic lab experience - pH, TA, A/O SO2
- Knowledge of winery equipment to service, repair and troubleshoot
- Self-motivated that want to be a part of something great
- Reliable transportation

Training in all areas of wine production will be provided.

Physical requirements
- Ability to lift 50 lbs
- Ability to work long hours and flexible days during harvest period
- Ability to stand for long periods of time (8 hours or more)
- Ability to walk over uneven ground
- Ability to work in all types of weather and climates
- Exposed to machinery and forklifts
- Must be able to bend over, kneel, reach, and balance/climb on ladders
- Must comply with all safety equipment requirements