Vineyard manager
Vineyard manager
Vineyard manager
This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the role. However, jobs will have varying responsibilities depending on level of the role and the size or type of the business.
Viticulture is the science of growing vines and grapes, and it's the name given to the wine production industry. The UK viticulture industry is full of technology and firmly embedded in supporting a healthy environment and building biodiversity across its sites.
It is a vibrant and progressive sector to work in. Over the last five years, the number of vineyards (where grapes are grown) has risen by 74% to 900, and there are now more than 200 wineries (where wine is made) in the UK.
A viticulture manager is responsible for the care of the vine plants year-round to ensure the growth of healthy grapes, suitable for wine production. Great wine starts in the vineyard, and this role requires the holder to maintain an effective overview of the health of the vines and the soil, with close attention to nutrition, plant care, and the surrounding natural environment.
A viticulture manager must be able to respond dynamically to challenges from pests or diseases and changes in weather conditions. They should also maintain an awareness of the wider industry to ensure the vines grown are suitable for the type of wine buyers and consumers are looking for.
Staff management is as key as it is in other sectors. Vineyard managers should understand how to communicate with and coordinate all the seasonal and specialist staff on their site. These may include vineyard workers, agronomists and contract staff.
Wine making is a precision process and the vineyard manager should practice and oversee accurate data gathering and record keeping, reporting over the whole season of the vineyard. This will enable monitoring of the whole process and help inform future practice.
This position will be very varied and will include long hours, including both practical and office work. It will often also require the operation of heavy machinery. Activities are often carried out in an outdoor setting that may also require heavy lifting along with periods of standing, bending and kneeling.
This work occurs across all seasons and because wine production will also use specialist equipment, managing health and safety in the workplace is a must.
As a viticulture manager, your responsibilities might include:
- Overseeing all vineyard maintenance activities on vines, under vines and, between rows (interrow)
- Increasing/improving fruit and therefore subsequent wine quality through observation and viticultural decisions
- Managing the response to the effects of seasonal variation and soil type on the growth and maintenance requirements of vines
- Overseeing response to diseases, pests, and nutrient deficiencies that may affect vine growth and responding to them appropriately, possibly with the support of an agronomist
- Ensuring all pest and disease control measures are carried out according to relevant legislation and following training
- Managing frost monitoring and protection activities
- Maintaining an orderly inventory and maintenance record of all vineyard equipment, machinery, and tools
- Selecting and supervising the use of appropriate machinery, such as tractors, for a range of cultivations (preparation for crop/plant growth)
- Ensuring all activities carried out on site are sustainable, support local biodiversity, and are to the benefit of the natural environment
- Overseeing accurate record keeping in respect to vineyard activities, vine health, and grape yield
- Managing personnel, including full-time, part-time, and seasonal vineyard staff
- Overseeing employee evaluation and development planning
- Maintaining a safe working environment for all employees
- Maintaining an overview of vineyard operations and monitoring budgetary goals
- Managing public engagement and client experience during open vineyard events and as part of a retail sector of the business
- Consulting as required with external stakeholder vineyards, helping to maintain our strong client relationships
To work as a vineyard manager, you should be:
- Strongly interested and have experience in the viticulture industry
- Detail orientated and quality driven
- Able to spot and report problems
- Keen to seek new knowledge and experiences to enhance value
- Able to effectively manage a hierarchical workforce
- Effective at managing more than one task when working to deadlines
- Highly motivated to complete tasks necessary for the success of the business
- Able to communicate and listen well to others
- Willing to communicate in a persuasive and constructive manner that leads to positive change
As a viticulture manager, you'll require experience in the viticulture sector and an awareness of sustainable farming principles. Ideally, a qualification in viticulture, such as a viticulture and oenology degree or viticulture apprenticeship.
You will have excellent communication and planning skills and ideally have some experience of leading or managing others.
Employers may appoint a candidate based on experience alone, however a relevant qualification in viticulture is also beneficial and may increase your options.
The role would suit someone with a keen interest and passion for developing their knowledge of grape/wine production. This would lead them to seek and implement new ideas and innovations to improve the vine growth and the wine making process to improve margins.
As a viticulture manager, you’ll have the following competencies for managing vineyard operations and staff for maximum productivity while supporting the environment.
You will:
- Oversee all vineyard maintenance activities on vines, under vines, and between rows (interrow)
- Increase/improve fruit and therefore subsequent wine quality through observation and viticultural decisions
- Manage the response to the effects of seasonal variation and soil type on growth and maintenance requirements of vines
- Oversee response to diseases, pests, and nutrient deficiencies that may affect vine growth and respond to them appropriately, possibly with the support of an agronomist
- Ensure all pest and disease control measures are carried out according to relevant legislation and following training
- Manage frost monitoring and protection activities
- Maintain an orderly inventory and maintenance record of all vineyard equipment, machinery, and tools
- Select and supervise the use of appropriate machinery, such as tractors, for a range of cultivations (preparation for crop/plant growth)
- Ensure all activities carried out on site are sustainable, support local biodiversity and are to the benefit of the natural environment
- Oversee accurate record keeping in respect to vineyard activities, vine health, and grape yield
- Manage personnel, including full-time, part-time, and seasonal vineyard staff
- Oversee employee evaluation and development planning
- Maintain a safe working environment for all employees
- Maintain an overview of vineyard operations and monitor budgetary goals
- Manage public engagement and client experience during open vineyard events and as part of a retail sector of the business
- Consult as required with external stakeholder vineyards, helping to maintain strong client relationships
As a guide, a viticulture manager earns £30,000 to £55,000.
This figure is very variable, depending on factors such as location, nature of the business, and level of experience.
As a viticulture manager, you could progress your career by developing your knowledge and skills through further training courses or study.
You may want to gain experience of wine making in another country in order to bring that expertise back to the UK and further develop the British wine industry as a consultant.
The main provider of viticulture qualifications in England at the present time is Plumpton College and below is a flavour of the courses they provide.
Vineyard managers bring out the skills in a range of employees in their businesses.
You can find out more about the scientists which work in viticulture in this video profile from NIAB:
Return to our job profiles page for more exciting roles in farming and growing.