Production Winemaker

The Production Winemaker is responsible for the day-to-day winemaking operations at WX Bottling in Sonoma and the adjacent contracted winery. Proactively, works with Winemaking team members and to ensure that the highest quality wines are made for all brands blended, crushed, fermented and aged at all North Coast contracted winery facilities.

Works as part of the winemaking team to create wines that reflect the established taste and style of our commercial brands. Responsible to maintain and implement winemaking protocols as set by the winemaking team from grape to bottle. The Winemaker role provides important leadership and direction to the contract facilities to ensure all winemaking goals and procedures are met within the time allotted while being ever vigilant with our quality standards. Specific brand winemaking responsibilities as directed.

GENERAL:

• Work in a collaborative environment with Winemaking team and Bottling Operations team to coordinate all production winemaking activities
• Responsible for creating and implementing production calendar for finishing wines
• Schedule Cellar operations for blending, finishing and storage at our contracted facilities
• Coordinate incoming and outgoing bulk wine shipments with Logistics manager
• Track and maintain wine quality through finishing and bottling
• Coordinate with labs to maintain wine quality and stability
• Coordinate with key departments (Lab, Cellar, Bottling, etc) to establish and meet planning requirements
• Direct the blending, finishing and stabilization operations to prepare wines for bottling at WX Bottling facility.
• Manage available cooperage and utilization at Bottling Center and contracted wine facilities.
• Manage wine additives inventory at contracted winery facilities
• Maintain production records in Vintegrate (Navision wine tracking database)

 BOTTLING:

• Taste, check analysis & sign-off all wines prior to bottling
• Adhere to wine quality guidelines and provide insight to process improvement
• Primary winemaker contact for all QC issues & variances
• Check all blends prior to entry into Vintegrate to confirm they meet legal requirements: appellation, alcohol, estate status, etc. 
• Primary liaison between WX winemaking and personnel at WX Bottling and Co-packers to ensure wine is ready on time, ensure correctness of mandatory label information.
• Participate in weekly team pre and post bottling tastings
• Lead weekly Winemaking team meetings

 Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science in Enology/Fermentation science or related technical field
• Minimum 3-5 years of winemaking production experience in similar role.
• Thorough knowledge of winemaking and cellar operation practices required
• Thorough understanding of winemaking processes and theory. Knowledgeable in all phases of winemaking, from the vine to the bottle, including bulk wine sourcing
• Extremely detail oriented
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent Organizational Skills and ability to work independently.
• Competency in working with Excel, Word and Outlook.
• Experience with Vintegrate and Navision is beneficial.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with all levels of internal and external contacts.

Perks

WX offers a competitive benefits package including PTO starting at 19 days per year. We offer an entrepreneurial environment that promotes career growth by leaps and bounds while being part of a team-oriented environment that knows how to have fun!

About Us

Founded in 1999, WX is a privately-owned innovative beverage alcohol company that produces products in 17 countries, on 5 different continents, and ships to 12 countries in Asia, Europe, Australasia, and North America. With offices located in Novato, CA and London, WX offers a unique working environment, with the fast pace of an entrepreneurial start-up and the down-to-earth atmosphere found in the Northern California wine industry. We seek people who are passionate about making a difference in the industry and their careers.

WX Brands was ranked the 13th largest wine company in the U.S. in February 2022.

In 2021, WX Brands was named by North Bay Business Journal as one of the best places to work.