Enologist, Acacia Vineyards

To provide technical support to winery operations

Financial Responsibility

Purchasing for approximately $30,000 of winery laboratory supplies and services.

Complexity of Role

- Operations staff

- Vendors and technical representatives

- Quality Control of harvest, ageing and bottling

- DC&E laboratories and Technical Services

Management Responsibility

Responsible for technical training and supervision of interns (2-3) and temporary laboratory tech technicians

Decision Making

1. Percent conductivity change of a wine at an offsite facility has increased even though the Potassium concentration has remained the same. Take a proper course of action to determine the cause of change.

2. The DMA is giving inconsistent readings. Create a plan of action to correct this.

Key Outputs/Deliverables

Provide winemaking technical support by leading all laboratory activities including performing analysis, maintaining analytical accuracy, and ordering supplies.

Work closely with all members of production team to ensure wine quality and style is met.

Perform all required must and wine chemical analyses, fining trials, and stability checks and/or assist the coordination of others in these activities.

Be willing and able to collaborate with laboratory and production staff at other DC&E sites.

Ensure that all wine going to bottle meets wine chemistry requirement specifications.

Assist in the evaluations of incoming packaging and ingredients to ensure quality standards are met.

Assist with environmental sterility audits (charm analysis etc.) as required.

Perform chemical analysis of all bottled wines.

Assist with Laboratory Safety Program, Chemical Hygiene Plan and Winery Safety Program.

Attend meetings and report developments as required.

· Maintain and validate records for all performed wine analysis, bottling quality control checks and packaging evaluations.

· Monitor wastewater treatment by analyzing water samples.

· Participate in the winery safety program and the pest control program.

· Participate in the production laboratory harvest activities as needed.

· Train Laboratory interns for the harvest period.

· Maintain lab supplies and troubleshoot lab equipment.

Experience
College Degree in Viticulture and Enology, Chemistry, Biology or related field.
Must be able to accurately and consistently follow established analytical procedures and directions as well as formulate procedures for new instruments. Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Excellent attention to detail.
Good organizational and multi-task skills.
Must be able to work independently.
Computer literate with intermediate knowledge of MS Word and Excel.
Knowledge of wine sensory characteristics.
Able to lift 50 lbs and work at moderate heights on catwalks or ladders

Enologist, Acacia Vineyards