Wine Connoisseur

Are you a person who loves wine and loves to be outside? If so, the perfect job in the wine industry for you will be the position of vineyard manager. As the vineyard manager, a person will be in charge of the grape growing process. Growing perfect wine grapes is not an easy task and as the vineyard manager, it will be your responsibility to make sure everything in the growing process is being done correctly.

Education

A vineyard manager position is not an entry-level position by any means. Becoming a manager of a vineyard will take a lot of hard work and experience in the field of viticulture. In order to become a vineyard manager a person will need to obtain a bachelor’s degree in viticulture or a related area of study. Formal training in viticulture management will be necessary as well. Most wineries will only hire an individual who has five to ten years of experience working in a vineyard. Communication and leadership skills are also necessary for this position as well.

Job Description

The vineyard manager will oversee a group of employees who will work directly in the vineyard making sure the grapes are growing properly. As the vineyard manager a person can expect to train all of the employees, who will be helping in the vineyard as well as creating a business plan for the year. Maintaining a budget as set by the vineyard is an extremely important aspect of this position as well. Monitoring the grapes at every stage of development is also a large responsibility that the vineyard manager undertakes. A diligent record of the health of the grapes and vine performance is essential to this job.

Salary Range

Working as a vineyard manager entails a lot of hard work. A person will be in direct contact with the winemaker as well as all of the other employees of the winery. The salary of a vineyard manager will vary by region, but the national average salary is around $80,000 per year.

A love of the outdoors and an understanding of how grapes grow is necessary to become a great vineyard manager. Managing a vineyard can be one of the most rewarding jobs in the wine industry as you will be directly responsible for making sure the crops for each batch of wine are perfected.