Senior Winemaker

Great Brands – Bigger Purpose

Part of global powerhouse Viña Concha y Toro, Bonterra Organic Estates is focused on crafting wines made from organic and Regenerative Organic Certified® grapes from our facility in Mendocino County, California, including category leader Bonterra (named the 2016 Wine Enthusiast American Winery of the Year); sustainability standout Fetzer; and 1000 Stories, California's original Bourbon barrel-aged wine. We are also the nation’s leading importer of South American wines including Casillero del Diablo, the #1 Chilean wine brand (750ml) in the U.S.; Trivento Reserve, the #2 selling Malbec in the U.S.; and Don Melchor, #1 in Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2024 list.

In the role of Sr. Winemaker, you  will be accountable for the strategy, leadership, and execution of winemaking activities—from harvest logistics and fermentation through blending and bottling—to deliver consistent, award winning (90 point) wines at scale. This role participates in the organic and sustainable production systems, manages custom crush client programs with a high touch, commercial mindset, and drives a culture of safety (EHS/HK&S), quality and continuous improvement across a 1.2M case operation.

Scope

• Deliver product quality and efficiency that meets brand standards, client specifications, certifications and financial plans
• Develop and execute long-term winemaking strategy aligned to growth in organic, premium tier and custom crush portfolios
• Champion safety (EHS/HK&S), compliance and robust management systems across all winemaking activities
• Represent the winery at trade, media, client and consumer events; elevate our reputation for quality and sustainability

Responsibilities

Vintage Processing and Production (Crush to Bottle) Activities

• Own end-to-end harvest logistics including fruit scheduling, receival, weigh tag accuracy, intake assessment and capacity utilization for assigned brands
• Direct fermentation strategy (yeast/bacteria selection, nutrient/O₂ management, cap management, temperature curves) for quality and efficiency
• Oversee bulk inventory
• Ensure organic and sustainability standards are designed into SOPs (approved inputs, segregation, chain of custody, audit readiness)
• Partner with Grower Relations to assess vineyards, optimize pick windows, and align fruit quality to program specs and cost targets
• Lead the winemaking operating budget for assigned brands and custom clients, yield performance, loss management and cost per case; deliver projects on or under target
• Maintain tight, continuous communication among cellar operations, bottling, quality and supply chain to hit plan
• Ensure zero nonconformances in organic/food safety audits; inventory accuracy 

Blending and Product Readiness Activities

• Lead sensory evaluation and analytical reviews to allocate lots and create blends that meet brand architecture and client briefs
• Build award-winning profiles capable of achieving 90 point scores in relevant publications; maintain benchmark library and tasting rigor
• Prepare blends to final spec; issue clear, timely cellar work orders; manage ullage and corrective actions for out-of-spec lots
• Ensure prebottling readiness (free SO₂, DO/CO₂, filtration plans, cold stabilization, additions) and on-time delivery
• Ensure accurate, real-time production records and traceability 

Custom Crush and Client Management Activities

• Build strong custom crush client satisfaction (renewals, margin to plan)
• Serve as primary technical contact for custom crush clients: define style/brief, contract specs, service levels, and milestones
• Provide proactive status communications, tastings, and decision points; manage trials, approvals and documentation
• Coordinate with Finance and Supply Chain teams to maintain scope, cost transparency and invoicing accuracy

Marketing, Trade and Promotion Activities

• Represent the winery in trade tastings, media interviews, winemaker dinners, seminars and key account visits
• Maintain current knowledge of competitive sets and winemaking trends domestically and internationally

NPD, Trials and Continuous Improvement Activities

• Design and execute New Product Development (NPD) trials (yeast/nutrient regimes, oak trials, fining/filtration, DO/CO₂ optimization) to enhance quality and efficiency
• Scale successful trials; formalize SOP updates; present outcomes to leadership and clients

Safety, EHS and HK&S Compliance Activities

• Model and enforce safety-first behaviors; ensure compliance with Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) / Housekeeping and Sanitation (HK&S) policies, Cal/OSHA requirements and food safety standards
• Conduct monthly safety walks/audits; lead incident investigations, Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) and trend reviews; ensure contractor safety integration

Team Player and Development Activities

• Participate in developing a high-performing winemaking team; set clear KPIs; drive accountability and cross-functional collaboration
• Facilitate structured tasting panels and postmortems (vintage and packaging)
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and problem solving 

Must Requirements

Qualifications, Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Enology/Fermentation Science or related field, and ten years progressive winemaking experience, or equivalent combination education/experience
• 10 vintages of progressive winemaking experience, including large‑scale operations (≥500k cases); multi‑site experience, a plus
• Demonstrated leadership of organic wine programs (certification requirements, inputs, audits, chain of custody)
• Proven custom crush and client-facing record of accomplishment with references
• Evidence of 90 point results from reputable publications across one or more brands/tiers

Technical Skills

• Vineyard assessment and fruit to program alignment; harvest logistics at scale 
• Fermentation management (white/rosé/red), oxygen management, microbiology and stability
• Blending architecture, sensory leadership and data-driven decision making
• Packaging readiness (filtration, stabilization, gas management) and bottling line collaboration
• Proficiency with Office 365 and winery software/LIMS; strong documentation discipline

Leadership & Communication

• Team building, coaching and performance management; cross-functional influence
• Clear, persuasive communicator with clients and trade; confident public speaking and presentation skills

Physical and Work Conditions

• Ability to work extended hours during harvest
• Travel approximately 20% for grower visits, client engagements and trade events (domestic/international as needed)
• Valid Driver’s License and the ability to be insured

Preferred

• Organic certification familiarity (e.g., USDA Organic, CCOF) and sustainability frameworks (e.g., CCSW)
• Bilingual English and Spanish is a bonus

Physical Requirements

Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. and push/pull up to 30 lbs. on an occasional basis; requires ability to occasionally stand, walk, reach upward/upward; occasionally climb, crawl, squat, kneel or bend; requires frequent sitting, and hand and finger dexterity for keyboarding and working at computer on a frequent basis. Occasionally requires safety glasses, hearing protection and other PPE equipment.

Location - This is an onsite role at our corporate offices located at 12901 Old River Road Hopland, California.

Compensation - The target salary range for this role is between $136,000 to 155,000 per year and an annual incentive target. Actual rates will vary and are based on a candidate’s relevant education, qualifications, experience, skillset, competencies, internal equity, location and alignment with market data.

Benefits - First day Medical, Dental, Vision, Life & Disability, Tax Savings (401k with company match), Short and Long-Term Disability, paid vacation, sick leave and company holidays. Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account benefits available to eligible employees. Community engagement is encouraged with one day/shift off per year as Volunteer Time Off (VTO). We offer many employee-focused health, wellness, training and safety-related programs as well as scholarship opportunities for dependents.

About Bonterra Organic Estates - Our California winery operation located at 12901 Old River Road in Hopland, includes Mendocino County winery, production and approximately 830 acres of vineyard locations. The company employs approximately 200 across the United States. In addition to Certified B Corporation, we hold the following certifications: TRUE Zero Waste, California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), and Fish Friendly Farming.

To apply - Ready to join us? Apply online: https://recruiting2.ultipro.com/FET1003FETZ/JobBoard/c6d65af3-319c-4d5a-8905-6818e98b821b

Requires successful completion of criminal background and drug screen. AA/EOE/M/F/D/V You will be required to submit verification of your citizenship or legal right to work in the United States at the time of an offer of employment.

See our privacy policy online: https://www.bonterra.com/privacy-policy

Employee Rights under FMLA: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/fmlaen.pdf

https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/fmlasp.pdf  

Salary : $136,000 - $155,000