Harvest Intern
Alexandria Nicole Cellars, LLC
Prosser, WA 99350
Alexandria Nicole Cellars is a small boutique winery with our own estate vineyard. We are a limited-production wine estate, located in Eastern Washington creating world-class European-style wines. The 327-acre estate, planted to 268 acres, has a rich heritage of success and diversity in both producing and creating world-class wines.
Intern Description:
Are you ready to get your feet sticky, your hands purple, and your taste buds tantalized? Then we’ve got the perfect job for you as a winery harvest intern!
As a winery harvest intern, you’ll be an integral part of the winemaking process and will have the opportunity to gain valuable gain hands-on and first-hand experience alongside our experienced winemaker and winemaking team as they turn grapes into liquid gold.
We are looking for a highly motivated individual who is passionate about wine, is eager for knowledge, and can work well with a team.
As a winery harvest intern, you’ll also get to:
- Taste the wine at various stages of the winemaking process (trust us, it’s better than any science experiment you did in school)
- Attend special events and tastings
- Learn about grape varieties, winemaking techniques, and the history of the winery
- Work outdoors and get some exercise (goodbye, stuffy office!)
- Make connections with other wine lovers and industry professionals
- And, of course, get a behind-the-scenes look at how your favorite beverage is made
Intern Responsibilities (included but not limited to):
- Assist in the daily tank and barrel rounds checking and recording Brix and temperature
- Assist in cellar activities including but not limited to grape evaluation, pump-overs, pomace shoveling, juice/wine additions, and cellar sanitation
- Update, create and maintain various Excel spreadsheets daily
- Provide necessary assistance to winemaking and lab staff as needed
- Participate in and track harvest experiments in accordance with winemaking staff directions
- Complete all written and verbal assignments as directed
- Understand and adhere to all safety policies and procedures
- Complete all safety training related to scissor forklifts and confined spaces
- Assist Operators in setting up equipment, pumping grapes and wine to tanks and barrels, chemical additions, sanitation, and other cellar work as needed
- Operate presses or other winery equipment
- Responsible for the various duties relating to the completion of work orders, safety checks, wine processes, reporting off standards, wash down and clean up, performing specified equipment maintenance, and sanitizing work area.
- Vineyard sampling for Brix, pH, and T.A. and reporting to clients
- Maintain a positive relationship encouraging strong communication and teamwork
- Handle and apply hazardous chemicals following all safety guidelines
- A significant amount of overtime is required during heavy production periods and some shift work may be required
- Heavy physical labor is necessary
- Able to pull 60 lbs. on the cellar floor, turn empty barrels, set barrels on pallets, and shovel pumice
- Able to work on concrete floors all shift
- Able to work in confined space
- Organize tasting and bench trial sessions for the winemaking team as required
- Conduct basic wet chemistry and enzymatic analysis for juice and wine as needed
- Support all phases of lab record keeping
- Maintain order and cleanliness in lab work areas
- Cellar tasks, vineyard inspections
Working Conditions:
- During Harvest (August-November) Day or night shift, up to 60 hours a week
- Varying temperatures
- Work as a team or independently
- Often fast-paced
- Physical labor
- Sometimes wet conditions
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to lift 60 pounds
- Walk several miles a day over a concrete floor
- Ability to operate a forklift
- Perform repetitive tasks
- Frequently climb stairs and walk across elevated catwalks
- Must be able to work extended hours (10-hour shifts 6 days per week) in hot and cold conditions
- Must be able to walk across wet concrete and step over hoses
- Intermittent work outside in varying weather conditions
Qualifications:
- Minimum age requirement of 21 when working in winemaking
- HS Diploma or GED Equivalent, current enrollment in, or possess a degree or certificate in enology, viticulture, or related field preferred
- Must have a passion for wine, and a desire to work in a motivated team environment
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and time management skills
- Must possess strong organizational skills, work well independently with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail
- Familiar with Microsoft Office Suite, proficiency with Excel highly preferred
- Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English fluently
- History of responsible and appropriate conduct
- Fit and able to be licensed, permitted, and/or certified by state and/or local regulatory bodies as needed
Education:
- Required – High School or higher
- Preferred – Bachelor of Science or some college, with an emphasis in viticulture and/or enology
