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Mendocino Wine Company and Parducci Wine Cellars, a family owned winery located in Ukiah, is seeking an Enologist to join our team. Parducci Wine Cellars is Mendocino County's oldest winery, producing legendary wine - expressing both varietal character and terroir - for 87 years. We are California's first carbon neutral winery, producing both conventional and certified Organic and Biodynamic wines for our own brands and custom clients'; from our own certified Estate vineyards and contracted vineyards. Our winery operates on high standards and broad vineyard cultivation practices that support the health of the vines and local ecosystem as a whole. We believe that quality starts in the vineyard. Better wines come from healthier vines.
Mendocino Wine Company's Enologist position is responsible for supporting the Head of Winemaking and Assistant Winemaker in coordinating wine production activities through crush, fermentation, clarification, aging, blending, and bottling.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to the following. Other duties may be assigned as needed.
Oversee Bottling QA program, including verification of daily sanitation and line checks (logs for filter bubble point, membrane filter usage, bowl sanitation temperature, fill level, extraction & torque testing, dissolved oxygen, etc.).
Oversee micro-plating of bottled wines, release wines from quality hold after observation of clean plates. Re-plate positive results as needed.
Verify bottling blend analysis is completed and entered into AMS, assist Assistant Winemaker in confirming compliance of wine and label alcohol percentages.
Review and direct Lab analysis priorities and work assignments (shared with Assistant Winemaker).
Review Lab analysis protocols for modifications and adherence to methods. Write and implement new protocols.
Management of calibration, preventative maintenance, and repair of Lab equipment.
Residual sugar analysis by enzymatic and OenoFoss methods on finished wine blends and negative brix musts (shared with Lab Technicians).
Malo-lactic analysis tracking by enzymatic and OenoFoss methods (shared with Lab Technicians).
Perform additional Lab analysis as needed.
Maintain Lab supply inventories, order supplies as needed.
Use laboratory analysis records to prepare sulfur addition lists for the cellar crew (shared with Assistant Winemaker).
Plan and maintain barrel topping schedule to coincide with sulfur additions (shared with Assistant Winemaker).
Monitor tank headspace, verify biweekly gassing and/or recommend topping tanks and/or moving wine to better fit.
Tracking and verification of heat and cold stabilities of wines preparing for bottling.
Assist in performing grape cluster sampling at contracted and estate vineyards, preparation of grape samples for analysis.
Oversight of daily temperature and brix readings for red and white fermentations; supervise seasonal harvest intern.
Tracking of fermentation status throughout harvest, monitor fermentation rates and quality.
Monthly sampling and drop off of monthly pond analysis.
Prepare list and order samples for monthly QA analysis.
Set up and participate in oak, fining, and blend tasting trials.
Interact with Custom Clients and Growers for sample requests and winemaking protocols.
Manage sample preparation, labeling, and shipping/pick-up of bulk samples for brokers and direct customers.
Perform Weighmaster duties for bulk wine shipping and receiving, and grape deliveries.
Perform other winemaking duties in the absence of team members.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Bachelor's Degree in Enology or related field.
LANGUAGE SKILLS: Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required. Excellent listening skills are required. Strong presentation and public speaking skills are essential and required. Spanish language skills are preferred.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Requires mathematical skills to be able to comprehend and analyze excel spreadsheets, chemical addition computations, and laboratory analyses.
REASONING ABILITY: Strong reasoning ability is required in order to be able to make effective decisions with limited information and during high pressure situations.
OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:
Intermediate level experience with Microsoft Office and wine tracking software, such as AMS required. Experience with BATF and ABC regulatory requirements is necessary.
Valid California Driver's license with clean DMV record. May require use of personal vehicle with mileage reimbursement.
Self-starter with strong work ethic able to work independently and with a team.
Willing to ask questions and learn.
Must be able to work outside in wet, hot, and cold conditions.
Regular work hours are Monday through Friday 7am to 4pm. Extended work days and hours are required during the harvest season (August through November).
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally
required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Must have the ability to climb ladders and handle working at heights. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 45 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works near motorized equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: MWC is a small, fast paced, family owned entrepreneurial company. Managers must perform with high proficiency in their area of expertise, but should have the ability and desire to understand other key areas of the business (Finance, Marketing and Production).
The ability to work in a fast paced work environment with all levels of personalities within the organization is required. This position requires the ability to be a team player who is also able to act independently with a minimum amount of supervision. The ability to be solution oriented with excellent follow through skills is essential in this position.
Mendocino Wine Company offers competitive compensation and a full benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and Long Term Disability coverage, 401(k) Plan with employer match, PTO, paid holidays, discounted wine and merchandise purchases, fresh organic produce, eggs, and meat from our farm, and more!
