Viticulturist

Job Summary: Design and implement the technical viticulture programs for the regional vineyards in direct interaction with and collaboration from the Regional and Vineyard managers and the Director of Viticulture. This includes but is not limited to pest & disease control, vine nutrition, irrigation and vineyard floor management. Assist in diagnosis and identifying solutions to viticulture problems in: plant water relations and nutrition, fruitfulness, canopy management, trellis systems, pruning, pest and disease management. Provide maps and technical reports to the regional vineyard operations team to assist in operational decisions. Monitor vineyards and provide vineyard observation reports to ensure that optimal winegrowing practices are employed. Responsible for organizing and reporting vineyard data and assisting in the collection of such data to support the farming, development, marketing and finance departments for the Region. This position must be able to receive direction from multiple departments and be able to communicate and prioritize the work effectively.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Quality Control and Winegrowing Technical:(40%)

• Visit the vineyards on a regular basis during the growing season observing pest pressures, vine condition and progress of viticultural and farming practices. Meet regularly with the Regional Manager and vineyard operations team to report on observations and to provide specific recommendations.
• Provide written and oral assessments and recommendations for pest and disease control, vine nutrition and irrigation scheduling operations to Regional Manager.
• Assist Regional Manager in implementation of procedures for all technical winegrowing operations.
• Coordinate and analyze soil and water reports and provide recommendations for developing new vineyards within the Region.

Reporting/Compliance: (40%)

• Collect, review and maintain records of all pesticide, irrigation and fertilizer applications.
• Provide pesticide use reports to local agriculture authorities, grape purchasers and vineyard owners.
• Assist Regional and Vineyard Manager sto ensure compliance with all pesticide related licensing, safety trainings, applications and postings.
• Provide timely reports or otherwise alert the vineyard operations team of any potential problems arising from improper pesticide applications in the Region.
• Regularly review data collection procedures making improvements in efficiency and accuracy as needed.
• Create and distribute the yield estimate reports for the budget, pruning, lag phase and post thinning yield estimates.
• Update, review and maintain all reports in the viticulture binder.
• Lead the regional implementation of viticultural data collection, reporting and analysis within AgCode, including mapping, phenology, petiole reports, vineyard data, yields, maturity analysis and other relevant historical information in collaboration with the Viticulture and Operations Teams.
• Assist Regional Manager in the development and implementation of the annual farm plans and budgets.

Special Projects/Harvest: (5%)

• Assist with harvest operations and quality control as needed.
• Assist Regional Manager with special projects as needed.

Promotion/Education: (5%)

• Represent the company in various industry technical groups and at seminars and conferences
• Give tours, talks and presentations as requested

Supervisory Responsibilities:(10%)

• Oregon Viticulture technicians and Scouts

Job Requirements:

Education/Experience: Minimum of a B.S. in Viticulture Enology, or related field (with strong coursework in Viticulture); minimum of 3 years experience actively involved in full-time Agriculture production with emphasis in vineyard management. Some additional experience with pest management recommendations, vine nutrition and irrigation is desirable.

Skills: Strong oral and written communication skills. Bilingual in Spanish and English. Able to document viticultural descriptions of vineyards. Strong computer skills including the use of spreadsheet programs (such as EXCEL), database programs (such as ACCESS or ESSBASE or icrop track), advanced word processing programs (such as Microsoft Word), and AgCode software. Must have working knowledge of the use of Neutron & “C” probes, pressure bomb, automated irrigation systems, and weather stations. Knowledge of GIS & GPS systems.

Knowledge: Strong background in Viticulture, Enology and related areas including plant physiology, pest management, soils, plant nutrition, etc.

Physical: Must be able to lift 50 lbs., without restrictions. Able to travel independently through the vineyards under adverse conditions including hot/cold weather, muddy conditions, soft soil, etc. Able to bend over and reach down to the ground.

Other: Possess and maintain a current pest control or applicator license. Must possess a valid driver’s license in the state employed, be insurable by the company and be able to operate a motor vehicle safely, and have the ability to travel.

Other Preferred Job Qualifications: Able to speak, read and write in Spanish. Advanced wine tasting skills, i.e. ability to detect and discriminate subtle differences in wines, such as acidity, alcohol, tannins, fruit flavors, etc. Knowledge of integrated farming practices emphasizing reduced use of pesticides. Experience with technical writing such as research reports.

The above information is representative of the work performed in this position, however it is not all-inclusive. The omission of a specific duty or responsibility does not exclude it from the position if the work is similar or related to the essential duties and responsibilities.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Supplemental pay types:

• Bonus opportunities

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Ability to Relocate:

• Rickreall, OR: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person