Winemaker - GV

Job Description:

Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services, the #1 custom sparkling wine producer in the United States, is seeking to add a Winemaker- GV to our team.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Winemaking, this individual will work closely with internal teams and custom crush clients to maintain high winemaking standards and to support operational excellence across multiple production formats. The Winemaker - Geyserville will also play a significant role in product development, including new projects and client onboarding. This role requires strong leadership, effective cross-departmental communication, and attention to detail. The ideal candidate is a collaborative and solutions-driven winemaking professional with the ability to balance technical expertise with client service and daily execution.

Essential Responsibilities

Winemaking & Production Oversight

• Manage Charmat sparkling wine production and related SOPs in partnership with the Executive Director of Winemaking.
• Oversee winemaking functions related to bottling and canning operations for still and sparkling wines, ensuring adherence to production plans and quality expectations.
• Work closely with SOLOs and internal stakeholders to support NOLO wine production for Rack & Riddle and custom clients.
• Ensure data is maintained accurately and timely in Vintrace for traceability and decision-making.

Team Leadership and Mentorship

• Responsible for personnel management, hiring, training, development, evaluations and discipline of direct reports and seasonal staff.
• Lead day-to-day oversight of the Lab, Quality Control, and Cellar teams, ensuring alignment with winemaking needs and production timelines.
• Develops a cohesive team through interpersonal skills and leading by example.
• Manages and implements the required training of team and ensures adherence to all policies, procedures and governmental regulations.
• Manages and ensures adherence to Company policies and standards.
• Facilitates the development of an empowered work team and mentors team members.
• Facilitates a safety culture of accountability and engagement.
• Coordinate with the Laboratory Supervisor and Cellar Master to ensure all SOP’s and policies are followed and team is trained appropriately.
• Collaborate with department managers for lab and cellar support when additional resources or coordination are needed.

Harvest & Winemaking Operations

• Actively support the Healdsburg production team during harvest, with a focus on execution and quality for sparkling base wine processing.
• Help manage juice processing, fermentation monitoring, and quality interventions in coordination with the Cellar Master.
• Ensure juice handling and fermentation workflows meet Rack & Riddle and client expectations.

New Product Development & Client Support

• Play a key role in new product development projects including client trials and production feasibility.
• Support the Business Development team with vetting new client projects and participating in early-stage client discussions.
• Assist with wine formulation, blending trials, dosage trials, and tasting panels for internal and custom programs.
• Help identify appropriate base wines and production paths for new formats and wine styles.

Cross Departmental Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with the Planning, Production, Lab, and Bottling teams to ensure winemaking requirements are communicated and executed effectively.
• Serve as a liaison between winemaking and other functional groups to identify, prioritize, and resolve process challenges.
• Champion GMP, food safety, and continuous improvement efforts across departments.

Other duties as assigned by Management.

Requirements

The successful candidate’s background includes:

• Completion of a degree or certificate program relating to enology, viticulture or related field.
• Previous Winemaking experience required, experience in Traditional Method Sparkling wine and/or Charmat preferred.
• 5+ years of experience as a Winemaker
• Possess a passion for wine, and desire to work in a motivated team environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Must possess strong organizational skills as well as a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong spreadsheet and word processing skills
• Ability to work days and/or nights, and extended hours as needed dependent on production needs.

Summary:

Established in 2007 in Northern California by wine industry veterans Rebecca Faust and Bruce Lundquist, Rack & Riddle was founded with the mission to craft superior sparkling wines. Through years of steadfast dedication and thoughtful expansion, Rack & Riddle has become the #1 custom sparkling wine producer in the United States with 3.5 million cases of capacity. An exceptional winemaking team dedicated to the mastery of sparkling wine supported by state-of-the-art technology, delivers turnkey grape-to-bottle, wine-to-bottle, and private label sparkling wine services with tank sizes ranging from 500 to 100,000 gallons. Four modern wineries located in Healdsburg, Geyserville and Lodi specialize in Méthode Champenoise, Charmat, and in-line carbonation solutions producing the best of all things sparkling. The company prides itself on being an upstanding member of the communities in which it operates and is committed to operating fairly, ethically, and sustainably.

Rack & Riddle is a drug-free workplace and an Equal Opportunity Employer.

This role's compensation is anticipated to fit within the stated range. These figures represent what we reasonably expect to pay for this position, but the actual compensation offered will depend on numerous job-related factors, including but not limited to candidate skills, knowledge, and education.

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