Wine Makers

Career summary

Wine makers turn grape or other fruit juices into wine. Most wine makers do the following:

• Direct and coordinate activities of a winery
• Make the final decision on how to produce wines
• Assess the quality of grapes and decide when they are ripe enough to be picked
• Take responsibility for laboratory analysis and quality control throughout the winemaking process
• Use computers for various tasks, such as monitoring the amount of water supplied to grapevines and recording levels of sugars and acids in grapes

In large wineries, wine makers assume a managerial role. They supervise laboratory procedures. They may specialize in products such as table wines or dessert wines. Some may work in new product development. Others work with a viticulturist (someone who specializes in grape growing) to select new areas for planting and new grape varieties.

In smaller wineries, wine makers conduct necessary microbiological and chemical tests. They supervise workers in the crushing and winemaking process, decide how long wine should be aged, and most oversee the bottling process. One or two people may be responsible for all phases of production. They may market the product and make business decisions.

Related careers

This career is part of the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Agricultural Scientists
• Chemists
• Craft Brewers
• Food Scientists
• Industrial Production Managers
• Science Technicians

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to wine makers.

• Coordinate and recommend procedures for facility and equipment maintenance or modification, including the replacement of machines.
• Develop and implement production tracking and quality control systems, analyzing production, quality control, maintenance, and other operational reports to detect production problems.
• Direct and coordinate wine production, processing, distribution, and marketing activities.
• Maintain current knowledge of the quality control field, relying on current literature pertaining to materials use, technological advances, and statistical studies. Maintain knowledge of quality control, relying on current literature on
• Review operations and confer with technical or administrative staff to resolve production or processing problems.
• Review plans and confer with research and support staff to develop new wines and processes, or to improve the quality of existing wines.
• Set and monitor product standards, examining samples of raw products or directing testing during processing to ensure finished products are of prescribed quality.

Common work activities

Wine makers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Get information needed to do the job
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Analyze data or information
• Monitor and control resources
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Control machines and processes
• Think creatively

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, wine makers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Supervise, coach, or train production workers.
• Are responsible for others health and safety.

Physical work conditions

• Often work indoors, but may work outdoors on rare occasions.

Work performance

• Must be aware of changing events, such as production slowdowns or a drop in product quality.
• Must be exact in their work.
• Must make sure that all aspects of their work are done.

Hours/travel

• Usually work more than 40 hours a week, especially during periods when fruit is crushed or during the bottling cycle.
• Often go to competitive or promotional tastings at night or on weekends.

Physical demands

Wine makers frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.
• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for wine makers to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Understand the speech of another person.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for wine makers to be able to:

• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.

Skills and abilities

Wine makers need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.

Use math and science

• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide quickly and correctly.
• Choose a mathematical method or formula to solve problems.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.
• Obtain needed equipment, facilities, and materials and oversee their use.
• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.
• Decide how to spend money to get the work done and keep track of how the money was used.

Work with people

• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.

Work with things

• Inspect and evaluate the quality of products.
• Analyze needs and requirements when designing products.
• Determine the tools and equipment needed to do a job.

Perceive and visualize

• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Horticulture Operations
• Operations Management
• Viticulture and Enology

Other programs of study to consider

• Agricultural Business and Management
• Agriculture, General
• Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
• Food Science
• Microbiology

Training

To work as a wine maker, you must:

• complete a bachelor's degree; and
• have a good sense of smell and taste.

Formal education

The most common training is a bachelor's degree with a major in enology or a related field. Some workers prepare for this profession by getting a master's degree.

On-the-job training

Other workers learn the necessary skills through on-the-job experience.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum  may be different from your state's graduation requirements .

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Agronomy
• Agricultural Business
• Computer Applications
• Family and Consumer Sciences

Some wine makers are self-employed. If you want to run your own business some day, you should consider taking these courses as well:

• Accounting
• Entrepreneurship
• Introduction to Business

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities, you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community are here .

Things to know

A bachelor's degree with specialization in enology is preferred. Some wineries will hire a person with a major in another field, such as food technology or chemistry, and some course work in enology.

#Checked CA degree statements; still accurate, 5/11/11, cj.

Tips

A strong interest in wine and a trained sense of taste are generally required of all winery staff. Volunteer work in small wineries during the fall "crush" is useful for learning the terms and processes related to wine making. Start out as cellar help and work you way up the ladder. Part-time vintage jobs in the US or abroad are good ways to get experience. Reading wine making books and taking related courses are helpful.

Costs to workers

Wine makers usually belong to one or more professional associations, which have annual dues.

Wages

Currently, there is no state specific wage information available for wine makers.

#No ES wage info available 7.13 ss

Wages may vary depending on the size, location, and reputation of the winery.  In a successful winery, a wine maker can earn over $110,000 per year. A 2018 salary survey conducted by Wine Business Monthly reported that the average earnings for winemakers nationwide was $93,072. Washington winemakers averaged $84,423 annually.

#addded 2011 national info 5/15/13 cj. lh from 2015 Salary Report; WineBusiness.com Author: Cathy Fisher Date: 09/23/15 http://www.winesandvines.com/buyersguide/?pLev=product&pId=121&articleId=158092
Copyright © Wines & Vines. 2016 salary survey not available w/o membership to Wine Business Monthly so left average earnings as is 3/1/17 cj. more research needed 4/16/18 lh

#updated to 2018 industry salary survey data from October 2018 Wine Business Monthly salary survey report (https://www.winebusiness.com/content/file/salary-survey-report__wbm_Oct18.pdf), 1/8/19 cj.

Wine makers at large wineries and owner-operators of small wineries often receive medical benefits and have their tuition paid for one or more professional seminars each year. Some wineries may offer profit-sharing programs, retirement plans, and bonuses.

Employment and outlook

Washington employment

Currently, there is no state specific employment information available for wine makers.

#No employment info available 7.13 ss

However, according to the Washington State Wine Commission, there are over 940 licensed wineries in the state. Washington is ranked second in the nation for wine production with most producers concentrated in the Yakima, Tri-Cities, and Walla Walla areas. There are also a few wineries in north-central Washington and the Puget Sound area. The state has 14 federally approved viticultural areas or wine growing regions.

#Updated number of wineries & verified info from WA Wine Commission website 4/21/09, cj. Updated winery numbers from WA WC website again 5/15/13; updated from WA WC website 7/16/14 & 3/1/17 cj. included new AVA "ancient  lakes"  lh 4/24/17. Updated number of wineries 1/29/19 cj.

Washington outlook

Currently, there is no state specific outlook information available for wine makers.

#No outlook info available 7.13 ss

Employment depends on the demand for wine, the expansion of existing wineries, and the number of new wineries in Washington State. Extreme weather conditions, such as prolonged drought or excessive sun on exposed grapes, can also reduce the quality and quantity of grapes available for wine making. The number of wineries has been growing steadily. The wine business is also often thought of as glamorous, so many people are willing to work for wineries. Additionally, the emergence of post-secondary education programs specializing in wine production and marketing has increased the number of skilled workers making and selling wine to consumers.

Most wineries are small, owner-operated businesses. The outlook is better for people with the capital to start their own winery and who have experience with commercial wine making. However, as competition grows, smaller wineries are finding it more difficult to get noticed by retail stores and restaurants. Therefore, some are gaining access to markets through small distributors that focus on wine, media exposure, and awards won for quality wines.

Washington State has a large amount of land which can be put into grape production, much of which is expected to produce premium-quality wines. If the rate of wine consumption grows, Washington State will become a larger producer, since land here is cheaper than in California. When the US dollar weakens against other currencies, it may also make Washington wines more competitive in the global market place and increase exports to some countries. A Supreme Court decision allows Washington State wineries to ship directly to out-of-state customers in states that allow interstate wine sales. This may benefit smaller state wineries that have relied on in-state sales since they are not large enough to sell their product to customers outside Washington through wholesalers.

#Made some modifications to outlook to relfect changes in the economy and the fact that strength of the dollar against other currencies has been fluctuating. 4/21/09, cj. Removed number (24) of states that WA wineries can directly ship to customers since had no new number to insert, 5/15/13 cj. Winery direct shipping to consumers outside of WA still allowed as of 3/1/17 cj. Checked outlook 1/29/19 cj.

Other resources

AgCareers.com 
Western USA Office
866.519.7445

American Society for Enology and Viticulture 
PO Box 1855
Davis, CA 95617-1855
530.753.3142

American Sommelier 

Council for Agricultural Science and Technology 
4420 West Lincoln Way
Ames, IA 50014
515.292.2125

North American Sommelier Association 

US Small Business Administration 
Seattle District Office
2401 Fourth Avenue, Suite 450
Seattle, WA 98121
206.553.7310

Viticulture and Enology Science and Technology Alliance (Vesta) 

Washington Business Week 
PO Box 1170
Renton, WA 98057
253.237.3545

Washington State Wine 
1201 Western Avenue, Suite 450
Seattle, WA 98101
206.667.9463

Wine Institute 
425 Market Street, Suite 1000
San Francisco, CA 94105
415.512.0151

WineAmerica 
1020 - 16th Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20036
202.783.2756

WineBusiness.com 

References

Career cluster

• Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Career path

• Enterprising (Business Communications)

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupation

• Wine Maker (183.161-014) 

Strong Interest Inventory

• Chemist

Holland occupational cluster

• Enterprising/Investigative/Realistic

COPSystem

• Consumer Economics