Wine / Enology Grape Chemistry Group

Industry Positions

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Associate Director/Enology Instructor, Southern Oregon Wine Institute

Umpqua Community College, located in beautiful Southern Oregon’s 100 Valleys of the Umpqua, has an exciting opportunity for a new Associate Director of Southern Oregon Wine Institute (SOWI)/Enology Instructor.  This is a new position in the college, which offered its first degree-track classes in Fall 2008.

The Associate Director (AD) will report to the Director of SOWI and will develop, deliver, and promote Enology courses for the Associate’s degree in Viticulture and Enology. The AD will also  participate in promoting the Institute, develop and deliver seminars, workshops and symposia relevant to the regional wine industry and will oversee the design, development and management of a new teaching winery, tasting room, and commercial scale winery incubator.   

For the qualified candidate, this is an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new program of instruction, to help build a new winery and contribute to the growth of a thriving wine industry in beautiful Southern Oregon.  

Bachelor’s in Enology or closely related field required. Graduate degree preferred. Associate’s degree and at least 5 years of professional winemaking experience may be substituted for the Bachelor’s degree. Professional winemaking experience required. Program/resource development, Community College teaching and/ or Extension Service experience preferred.

This opportunity offers an outstanding salary and benefit package. Position open until filled. First review date of March 1, 2010. Tentative start date March 29, 2010.

For details on this opportunity and the SOWI see UCC’s website at www.umpqua.edu.

To apply, send a letter of interest, the completed college application, list of at least 3 references, and transcripts to: Tina Sprouse, Human Resources, P O Box 967, Roseburg, OR 97470, Telephone: 541-440-4626, FAX 541-440-7712, email: .

Assistant Winemaker, Breaux Vineyards, Percellville, Virginia

Assistant Winemaker- Fully support Winemaker in all aspects of the cellar, winemaking, vineyard and promotional activities of the operation. This is a hands-on position that may at times require work to be performed outside the normal scope of job responsibilities.

Major duties include:

  1. Winery:
    1. Assist the Winemaker with wine processing:
      1. Participate in the design and implementation of harvest experiments, then monitor and track wine lots.
      2. Prepare samples and trial blends for tasting and analysis.
      3. Be an integral part of wine tasting team.
      4. Perform lab analysis.
      5. Participate as a member of the Winemaking team in researching and recommending new processing technology and wine making techniques that will augment Breaux Vineyards product quality and improve processing efficiency.
      6. Assist in writing and completing work orders, including verification that proper cellar procedures are followed in all aspects of wine processing.
      7. Assist the Cellar Worker(s) in tank and barrel up keep with a primary focus on ensuring proper safety and quality control measures are taken.
    2. Bottling
      1. Assist the Winemaker with overseeing bottling line processes; perform and document quality control.
    3. Inventory & Reporting
      1. Assist the Winemaker with inventory of equipment, Barrels, Bulk Wine, and winemaking additives; assignment of lot numbers and tracking the use of the various lots to conform to government requirements.
      2. Assist the Winemaker with maintaining and documenting inventory of caps, bottles, corks, and labels.
      3. Assist the Winemaker with monthly reporting of all winemaking activities for government reports.
    4. Lab Maintenance
      1. Maintain neat and clean work areas inside the lab.
      2. Maintain inventory and good working order of lab instruments, glassware and expendable chemistry supplies.
  2. Winery Promotions:
    1. Lead or participate in promotional activities focused on the winemaking and estate vineyard operations to include full technical tours of the facility and tasting of full variety of wines produced.
    2. Travel to trade related functions to promote the winery as needed.
  3. Vineyard:
    1. Assist the Winemaker with seasonal vineyard data collection and analysis to grow the highest quality fruit and wine.
    2. Assist the Winemaker in researching, recommending and implementing new vineyard technology and techniques that will augment Breaux Vineyards product quality and improve processing efficiency.

Requirements:

  • Degree in Oenology with a minimum of 2 years of practical experience in winemaking.
  • Good communication skills, both oral and written.
  • Passion for the art and science of winemaking and ability to communicate that passion to others both inside and outside the winery
  • “Do what needs to be done” attitude. Flexibility to perform duties outside of normal job scope when required.
  • Computer skills to include MS Word, Excel & internet.
  • Supervisory abilities and skills, and ability to lead by example
  • Strong ability to work well with others
  • Public speaking skills a plus.
  • Heavy physical work involved, including the ability to lift 50 pounds.
  • Ability to operate fork lifts, tractors and other related job equipment.

Compensation: Full-Time, Salary plus benefits, Wage commensurate with experience.

Hours:  7:30-5:00 pm Monday-Friday. (possible on-call requirements)

Reports to Winemaker

Contact:

36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane
Purcellville, Virginia 20132
(800) 492-9961 (540) 668-6299 Fax (540) 668-6283

Viticulture Instructor/Vineyard Manager Position available in Wamego, Kansas:

Highland Community College is seeking a Viticulture Instructor/Vineyard Manager at its center in Wamego, Kansas. The successful candidate will teach in introductory course(s) in Viticulture and manage the College's newly created 2-acre instruction/research vineyard. Other teaching is possible depending on the candidate's degree.

Requirements: Candidates with a Viticulture degree are preferred, but persons with degrees in agriculture, biology, chemistry, or botany and an interest in Viticulture are encouraged to apply. Master's degree preferred; bachelor's accepted. Applicants must be eligible for employment in the United States without sponsorship.

Application Process: To apply, request an application packet from:

HCC Human Resources
606 W. Main
Highland, KS 66035
785-442-6010
egronniger@highlandcc.edu

Please indicate if you would like the application sent via email or through the postal service.

Highland Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

If you have a job opening you would like advertised here, please contact Bruce Zoecklein at:

Bruce Zoecklein
Room 14
Dept. of Food Science & Technology (0418)
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061
phone: 540-231-5325
fax: 540-231-9293
e-mail: