How to Find a Job in a Winery
Knowledge in the winemaking field is a plus for getting a winery job. However, some positions require only a commitment to hard work.
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Things You'll Need
- Printers
- Red Wines
- White Wines
- Wine Glasses
- Wine Racks
- Wine Magazines
- Internet Access
- Postage Stamps
- Envelopes
- Computers
- résumé paper
Instructions
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Before Job Hunting
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1
Acquaint yourself with wine products and enhance your social skills.
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2
Become a wine enthusiast. Sample various types of wine and consider taking a wine-tasting class, which may be offered at a nearby specialty wine shop.
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3
Work toward and earn a degree in enology, chemistry, biochemistry or biology if you are truly determined to pursue a career in the wine industry. (Enology is the science of winemaking.)
Job Hunting
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4
Prepare résumés to send to wineries and placement agencies located in the winemaking regions where you want to work.
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5
Convey, in your cover letter, your particular interests within the field of winemaking.
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6
Emphasize your willingness to work long hours. During harvest, a typical work week consists of 10- to 12-hour shifts, six days a week.
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7
Send résumés in June or July for positions in production, since harvest begins around August or September.
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1
Tips & Warnings
For administrative work in a winery, having a background in wine may not be necessary.
To work as part of the cellar crew, you must be a hard worker; cellar work is physically demanding.
To work in the bottling department, you must be able to handle repetition and a factory-like atmosphere.
For those without winery experience, the best way to get into the production end of the industry is to become part of the harvest season crew. (The harvest is also referred to as "crush.") The production end includes cellar work, bottling and lab analysis. Although the position may be temporary, it is impressive to have one season under your belt, and it could lead to a permanent job.
