What are the responsibilities and job description for the Winery Laboratory Lead position at LangeTwins Family Winery & Vineyards?
Winery Laboratory Lead
Acampo, CA | Full-Time | $26.75 – $31.50/hour
Lead the Science Behind Exceptional Wine!!
At LangeTwins Family Winery & Vineyards, we believe great wine starts with precision, passion, and people. We are seeking a Winery Laboratory Lead to oversee all laboratory analysis supporting winemaking, cellar operations, and bottling readiness. This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant laboratory testing while working closely with our winemaking and production teams. As the Laboratory Lead, you will manage daily lab operations and provide technical expertise in wine chemistry and microbiology, helping ensure our wines consistently meet internal quality standards and regulatory requirements.
What You’ll Do
Laboratory Leadership & Management:
- Lead daily lab operations and guide laboratory staff and QC team members
- Develop, maintain, and improve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Oversee calibration, maintenance, and proper use of lab equipment
- Manage lab inventory (reagents, chemicals, supplies) and ensure safety compliance
- Uphold Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and internal quality standards
Wine Analysis & Winemaking/Production Support:
- Oversee routine analytical testing including Brix, glucose/fructose, pH, TA, VA, alcohol, SO₂, malic/lactic acid, YAN, DO/CO₂, turbidity, residual sugar, color, and microbiological analysis
- Ensure timely fermentation monitoring and communicate results to winemaking for real-time decision-making
- Interpret lab data and provide clear, actionable insights to production teams
- Maintain accurate analytical records for compliance and traceability
- Provide analytical support for fermentation, SO₂ management, and blending trials
- Monitor malolactic fermentation and microbial stability
- Collaborate closely with winemaking, cellar, and production teams
Bottling Readiness & Compliance/Continuous Improvement:
- Conduct pre-bottling analysis (protein/cold stability, DO, microbial stability)
- Verify wines meet internal and regulatory standards before bottling
- Support bottling quality checks and finished product standards
- Maintain records supporting audits, traceability, and regulatory compliance
- Assist with TTB and export compliance documentation
- Manage SDS library and chemical safety records
- Participate in internal audits and quality initiatives
- Identify opportunities to improve lab efficiency and turnaround times
- Support process improvements and organizational standards (5S)
- Take on special projects and support evolving winery needs
What You Bring
- Bachelor’s degree in Enology, Chemistry, Food Science, or related field
- 3–7 years of winery laboratory experience
- Strong understanding of wine chemistry and fermentation science
- Proven leadership skills with the ability to guide, mentor, and coordinate lab staff
- Experience supporting harvest and production environments
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and data interpretation skills
- Experience with lab instrumentation calibration and maintenance
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (ERP/LIMS experience a plus)
- Knowledge of TTB regulations and wine compliance standards
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus
Why You’ll Love This Role
- Be a key player in crafting high-quality wines from grape to bottle
- Work alongside passionate winemakers and production teams
- Lead and shape lab operations with real impact
- Thrive in a dynamic, harvest-driven environment where no two days are the same
Ready to Apply?
If you’re passionate about wine science and ready to lead with purpose, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today and help us continue crafting wines that reflect both tradition and innovation.
Pay: $26.75 - $31.50 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Salary : $27 - $32