Viticulturist / Vineyard Worker Apprentice
(Wine Jobs:
Vineyards & Cellars )
Full Time
All Angels Vineyards
Newbury RG20 0HD,
England
Full job description
We are excited to announce a unique opportunity to be an integral part of a small team working on 15 acre family owned vineyards established in 2011 at a historic farm outside Newbury.
Already producing multi award-winning sparkling wines from classic grape varieties, the emphasis is firmly on patience and quality rather than quantity, working sustainably and in harmony with nature. Reporting direct to the family with no third party investor interference.
As this is an apprenticeship, you will attend Plumpton College for your learning through block release, where you will study for a week at a time (5 times throughout the year).
Hours: 38 hours per week. Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm with 45mins for lunch. Flexibility will be required and the applicant will be expected to work occasional weekends and, during the frost season, nights. Time off in lieu will be provided. It is expected that longer hours and more days per week will be required during the months of May – October and significantly fewer hours and days between November – January.
Salary: £14,918.80 for the first year, increasing to minimum wage for age group after the first year of the apprenticeship.
Application deadline: 17th March 2025
About the Employer
Family owned vineyards first planted in 2011. Spread over three sites producing classic sparkling wine grapes of premium quality for own brand award winning wines. The four pillars of our ethos are: quality over quantity, patience over profit, honour the land and nature, and respect the history. Our approach to vineyards and grapes all flow from these pillars.
What will the apprentice be doing?
All aspects of vineyard maintenance and enhancement directed at producing the best possible grapes, including:
- Soil analysis
- Pruning & tying down
- Frost fighting using the 5 types of protection systems employed
- Shoot thinning & removal
- Tucking in
- Canopy management (hand & machinery)
- Weed control and soil management using cover crops
- Disease monitoring and reporting
- Spraying
- Yield assessment
- Harvest preparation and supervision
- Assessment of technological aids, eg drones
Training Provider: Plumpton College
Plumpton College is a dedicated training provider in the heart of the South Downs. With expertise in the Land, Food and Environment sectors, Plumpton provides a wealth of knowledge to its apprentices.
Viticulture or wine growing is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes.
Duties of the viticulturist include monitoring and controlling pests and diseases, fertilising, irrigation, canopy management, monitoring fruit development and characteristics, harvest decisions, and vine pruning during the winter months.
Viticulturists are often intimately involved with winemakers, because vineyard management and the resulting grape characteristics provide the basis from which winemaking can begin.
The role requires self-motivation and the ability to work both independently and as a team player to complete tasks safely and efficiently. A lot of time is spent outdoors in all weathers, so resilience and drive are imperative to be successful.
The course will also incorporate a range of competency certificates, such as first aid and pesticide application.
What apprentices will learn
- Pest & disease management
- Yield forecasting & management
- Pruning & trellising
- Canopy management
- Vineyard floor management
- Vineyard establishment
- Harvest planning and management
- Vineyard nutrition
- Health & safety and standard operating procedures
- Vineyard machinery & equipment
- Qualifications Awarded
- Apprenticeship Certificate
- Level 3 award in emergency first aid at work
- Level 2 in Maths and English (if applicable)
- PA1 Safe use of pesticides (pre requisite of PA3)
- PA3 Air assisted sprayer
Essential Criteria for the role:
- Communication skills
- IT Skills
- Problem Solving Skills
- Organisation skills
- Presentation Skills
- Admin Skills
- Number Skills
- Patience
- Creative
- Imitative
- Logical
- Detail oriented
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Physical fitness
Qualifications: Math and English GCSE Grade 4 desirable or discussion for completion of Functional Skills Maths and English if not achieved.
Things to consider
- Having access to your own transport is highly recommended due to rural location of vineyard.
- Much of the work is outside in all weathers. The work itself will be quite physical. During peak season, early starts will be required. Being prepared for this is important.
- There are dogs on site so the employee must be comfortable with dogs around.
- We have a zero tolerance of substance abuse policy.
- You MUST not be in any other form of full-time or part time formal education (such as school, college or university) to be eligible to apply for an apprenticeship. Shorter course may not apply.
- You MUST have lived in the UK for a minimum of 3 years prior to the start of learning and be eligible to work in the UK.
- You MUST be located in an area local to the apprenticeship or be prepared to relocate in time to start employment and study.
- This apprenticeship is approximately 24 months.
Job Type: Apprenticeship
Pay: £14,918.80 per year
Application question(s):
- Do you hold a UK driving license, if yes, do you own a car?
- Why do you wish to pursue a career in the vine sector?
Work Location: In person
