About us
Home to Villa Maria, our vision is to be one of the world’s great wine companies, sharing the best of New Zealand wine with the world. Our grapes come from over 6,000 hectares of planted vineyards and are blended in our wineries across Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne. Our wines are exported globally. From grape to glass, we’re passionate about wine and we love what we do.
The role
As we prepare for Vintage 2026, we are seeking a dynamic Vintage Assistant Winemaker to join the team at our Hawke’s Bay winery.
- Assist our winemaking team in all stages of our harvest winemaking production.
- Support winery operations across day or night shifts.
- Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to achieve harvest goals while ensuring top‑quality standards are met.
- Participate in blend, fining and ferment tasting, as required.
- Be actively involved in juice and ferment monitoring.
- Be able willing to assist in both cellar and lab operations, when required.
- Front‑end coordination for fruit receival, as required.
- Operate with a safety‑first focus in all tasks and undertakings.
Built in 2017, the Hawke’s Bay Winery is a modern facility with a wide range of winemaking equipment and a variety of fermentation vessels including barrels and concrete fermenters. Enjoy varied exposure across different winemaking techniques and grapes; we produce Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Sauvignon blanc, Pinot gris and Rosé.
About you
To succeed in this role, you will bring :
At least two vintage experiences working in a winery with exposure to winery operating systems.A tertiary qualification in a relevant field.Have a strong systems focus, working with our Winemakers to assist in developing and updating cellar operations.Be quality focussed with strong attention to detail.Be familiar with Winemaking Compliance and Legislative requirements.Be a sound problem solver with the ability to do so under pressure.Be physically fit, reliable and a team player.This is a full time, four month fixed‑term role from the start of February to the end of May. Because of the nature of our business, our vintage dates might change slightly, but we will always keep you up‑to‑date with the latest information as we get it.What else to expect?
Along with a great hourly rate, we have a number of additional benefits to add to your package!You’ll need to be available to work long shifts.You need to be prepared (if required) to undertake a pre‑employment medical examination and drug and alcohol test.Our Culture
We’re a good ol’ Kiwi company who is proud to be a wine industry leader and we have years of hard work to thank for it.Our business is proudly spearheaded by the Villa Maria Brand.We take our work, but not ourselves, too seriously.We work with people from all over the world because our diversity makes us stronger.Apply
If you’re up for a working adventure with one of New Zealand’s best‑loved wineries, get in touch today! Don’t delay – apply online today.
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