Senior Production Winemaker

About the role

The Senior Production Winemaker is responsible for managing assigned winemaking clients and collaborating on the planning, coordination, and execution of winery production activities to ensure wines are produced to client specifications, quality standards, and production targets. The role provides technical leadership and support across winemaking and production operations while fostering a positive, safe, and high-performing workplace culture.

Key responsibilities

• Comply with all Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) legislation, Regulations, and Code of Practice relevant to your work, as well as VinLink Workplace Health & Safety policies and procedures.
• Undertake all activities required in your role to maintain compliance with company and client quality programs including, but not limited to, BRCGS and SWNZ.
• Manage client relationships and communicate production requirements.
• Collaborate with the client to ensure delivery of optimal grape quality. Participate in vineyard assessments, monitoring and harvest planning as required.
• Manage blending, tasting, dispatches, and quality decisions throughout the winemaking process.
• Support the Chief Production Winemaker to maintain and mentor a permanent and casual winemaking team.
• Create and update job notes, operational instructions, and monitoring documentation to ensure production protocols are followed.
• Contribute to the planning and allocation of workloads and resources to support short-term and long-term production objectives.
• Actively contribute to the continuous review and maintenance of relevant SOPs to ensure they remain up to date and support the safe and efficient operation of the winery.
• Function as a key stakeholder within the Quality & Compliance framework by collaborating with the Quality & Compliance Manager (QCM) to promote food safety, quality culture, regulatory compliance, certification readiness, and continuous improvement across all winery operations.

About you

• A qualification in Winemaking, Oenology, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in a commercial winemaking role, preferably within a large-scale production winery.
• Experience in wine production is essential, including direct experience within a large-scale winery, vineyard monitoring, harvest planning, spray diaries assessment and managing production processes in a high-quality, fast-paced environment.
• Practical knowledge of winemaking systems, processes, and safety requirements.
• Proficient in Vintrace and Microsoft SharePoint.
• Advanced written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills with the ability to multi-task and work to multiple deadlines.
• Self-motivated, with an ability to work as part of a team, and independently, when required and works well under pressure.
• NZ citizen, permanent resident, or hold an applicable work visa.
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal communication skills.