Assist Viticulture and Enology Instructors with day-to-day operation of vineyard and winery.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Viticulture/Enology Technician will be responsible for day-to-day operations and routine tasks of campus vineyard and winery to include:
• Timely canopy management and Integrated Pest Management: pruning, trunk suckering, shoot thinning, shoot positioning, leaf pulling, hedging, cluster thinning, scouting, trap monitoring, soil and tissue sampling.
• Vineyard site and infrastructure maintenance: remove and replant vines as needed, maintain ground-cover and soil fertility, repair trellis and irrigation.
• Safely operate and maintain all viticulture equipment including tractors, sprayers, hedger, per-pruner, mowers, UTV, hand and power tools.
• Safely and effectively apply pesticides and maintain records in compliance with WPS, NCDA and OSHA.
• Aid Viticulture Instructor as needed during harvest and in preparation for field lessons.
• Perform all analysis of wines and musts accurately and on a timely basis. Record results during harvest, fermentation, finishing, storage, and packaging. Analysis will include and may not be limited to: titratable acidity, volatile acidity, residual sugar, alcohol %, and free and total SO2.
• Clean and maintain to sanitary conditions in entire winery space (laboratory, storage space, barrel room, crush pad, storage cabinets, sensory room) and on all equipment: glassware, filters, pumps, press, crusher-destemmer, pallet jack, ladder platform using the technique, cleaning agents, and tools as directed by Enology Instructor.
• Maintain all regulatory compliance records as requested by Enology Instructor.
• Monitor fermentation and manage storage conditions of winery environment and fermenting/stored wines as required during evening hours and on weekends as directed by Enology Instructor.
• Operate and ensure the safe operation of the following equipment as needed: pumps, hoses/connectors, filters (pad, diatomaceous earth, sterile), crusher-destemmer, bladder press, bottled gas dispensers, pressure/steam washer, pallet jack, forklift (training and certification may be provided), labeler, capsule applicator, bottling line and all laboratory instruments.
• Demonstrate safe working habits at all times in the winery and when handling caustic chemicals.
• Assist with bottling, harvest, and wine festivals, which include evening and weekend work.
• Assist in the distribution of wine to retail outlets as needed.
• Performing other agriculture-related job duties as assigned by the Division Chair or appropriate VP.
• Maintain a clean and safe work area.