This position relates to all departments of a working estate winery in Maine. The seasonal and multi-faceted nature of our work requires a flexible and open-minded approach, and candidates should be aware that the scope of work may change regularly.
Vineyard work hours are focused on canopy management and weeding and involve long hours in the field. Occasional landscaping and property maintenance and participation in winery-focused hospitality events may be expected.
• Available hours TBD, depending on work demand. Normal scheduling falls Monday-Friday between 9am-5pm.
• Work hours will be assigned in any weather deemed workable by the vineyard manager.
• Staff are responsible for providing their own weather gear including waterproof (jacket, boots) and sun-shielding (hat, sunglasses, lightweight). Close-toed work shoes/boots are always required when working in the vineyard and winery.
• WillowsAwake will provide access to work gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, sunscreen and bug/pest deterrent (bug-spray).
Winery labor assists with cleaning tasks, packaging and labelling. Availability during the weeks of harvest and crush (Sept-Oct) is required:
• Scheduling hours for winery work normally fall Monday-Friday between 9am-5pm EXCEPT during harvest and crush, where picking and processing days can fall on both Saturdays and Sundays, and hours may be required anytime from 7am – midnight. Staff should anticipate heavy processing days during the weekends from mid-September through mid-October. No time off requests will be permissible during this period.
An overview of the various departments with examples of their expected activities is outlined below.
Vineyard
• Manual vine maintenance: green pruning, bud thinning, shoot thinning, shoot positioning, leaf thinning, cluster positioning, hedging.
• Vineyard floor sanitation: manual weeding, occasional use of a weed whacker.
• Handling of pest and bird deterrents: putting on and taking off netting
• Trellis maintenance: tightening wires and assisting with new post/wire installations.
• Soil and plant health monitoring, soil and vegetative analyses preparation
• Pre-harvest fruit management: brix and acid measurement, including use of refractometer, pH meter, and titrations.
Winery
• The candidate will be trained on workflow and appropriate use of all equipment relevant to harvest and crush-time tasks in the winery, including use of:
o Crusher/destemmer
o Hydraulic basket press
o Must hopper
o Peristaltic pump
o Impeller pump
• Cleaning and sanitizing equipment, maintaining clean spaces in the winery, surface and floor cleaning.
• Cleaning and sanitizing winery and harvest tools, including buckets, lugs, picking tools.
• Assist with bottling runs and subsequent labelling and packaging of wines.
General Property Maintenance
• Occasional mowing, weeding, and planting of gardens, planter beds and raised beds
• Keeping all areas free of debris and trash and maintaining an aesthetically appealing surrounding property for the enjoyment of our guests.
• Assistance with compost system, may include temperature monitoring, turning, stirring.
Expectations
• Desire and willingness to learn about the wine industry, previous experience not required.
• Ability to lift and move 50lbs on a regular basis.
• Ability to work while kneeling, stooping, squatting, and standing.
• Ability and willingness to work outside in an agricultural setting in varied weather conditions is required.
• Ability to work autonomously and problem-solve effectively.
• Ability to operate hand tools, some power tools as needed (training provided).
• Occasional weekend and some evening shifts required (will be notified well in advance)
Safety note: WillowsAwake Winery is an agricultural operation, which carries inherent risks associated with on-farm activity. Training will be provided to inform of risk reduction and standard protocols for relevant activities, specifically regarding pesticide and chemical use. An ability to prioritize safety, maintain awareness of your surroundings, and to adhere to instruction is required for this role.
