Sevenhill Cellars - Wine Technician

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Wine Technician will work alongside in support of the Wine Maker and Sevenhill Cellars. The Wine Technician supports the planning, coordination and technical delivery of wine production at Sevenhill Cellars, working across grape assessment, vintage operations, fermentation, maturation, laboratory analysis, blending, finishing and preparation of wines for bottling. MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: • Assess grapes prior to and during vintage by collecting and examining samples to monitor ripeness, sugar levels, acidity and general fruit condition, and provide technical information to assist with determining harvest timing and suitability for processing. • Support and coordinate winemaking operations throughout vintage, including grape receival, crushing and destemming, pressing, juice transfers, inoculations, fermentation management, pump-overs, rack-and-returns and other processing activities. • Monitor alcoholic and malolactic fermentations, undertaking regular sampling, laboratory testing and sensory assessment to evaluate fermentation progress and identify where adjustments or winemaking interventions may be required • Conduct laboratory testing and analysis of grapes, juice and wine, including relevant measurements such as SO2, pH, dissolved oxygen, dissolved carbon dioxide, turbidity and other analytical parameters used to assess wine condition and quality. • Prepare, calculate and administer winemaking additions and treatments in accordance with winemaking instructions and analytical results, including additions associated with grape receival, fermentation, wine stabilisation and finishing. • Undertake sensory evaluation of juice and wine samples throughout production and maturation, assessing characteristics such as flavour, aroma, colour, balance and overall wine quality and communicating findings to the winemaking team. • Participate in blending, fining and treatment trials, preparing samples and evaluating alternative blends or treatments to assist the winemaking team in determining appropriate compositions and finishing approaches for individual wines. • Assist with the maturation and finishing of wines, including racking, transfers, barrel filling and topping, filtration, clarification and other cellar processes required to maintain wine quality and prepare wines for final blending and bottling. • Monitor wine quality throughout storage and maturation, using laboratory and sensory observations to identify variations or quality issues and assist with determining appropriate corrective or preventative winemaking actions. • Contribute to the development and maintenance of quality control procedures for grape receival, winemaking, cellar operations, wine storage and preparation for bottling, ensuring wines are handled consistently with Sevenhill Cellars' production and quality standards. • Assist with planning and coordinating cellar production activities, including organising wine movements, treatments, blending and finishing activities to meet production and bottling schedules while maintaining efficient cellar workflows. • Provide technical direction and assistance to cellar and vintage staff during grape processing and wine production activities, helping ensure that grapes, juice and wines are processed using the appropriate equipment, treatments and production methods. • Maintain accurate technical and production records relating to grape receival, laboratory results, additions, fermentation progress, wine movements, treatments, blending and other winemaking activities to support traceability and quality control. • Maintain high standards of winery hygiene, workplace safety and quality control, including cleaning and sanitising tanks, processing equipment, barrels and work areas to protect wine integrity and minimise contamination risks. SKILLS & EXPERIENCE • Formal training in Viticulture and Oenology • Hands-on experience across the winemaking process, including grape receival, crushing, pressing, fermentation management, racking, wine transfers, filtration, barrel work, blending trials and preparation for bottling. • Wine laboratory and quality assessment experience, including testing and monitoring SO2, pH, dissolved oxygen, dissolved CO2 and turbidity, as well as sensory assessment of juice, ferments and finished wines. • Experience coordinating winery and vintage operations, including supervising grape processing activities, organising cellar workflows and working with winemaking teams to meet production, blending and bottling requirements. For more information or to apply please contact the Chief Winemaker: Ben@sevenhill.com.au