Winemaker
A winemaker is responsible for turning harvested grapes into finished wines. That may sound pretty straightforward, but winemaking is a highly complex process that requires creativity, adaptability, hard work and scientific rigour. It’s a hands-on role, which is often far less glamorous than you may expect, but it can also be very rewarding.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities can vary significantly from one winery to the next. Many winemakers oversee the entire process: monitoring the grapes, choosing when to harvest, crushing fermenting the grapes, pulling hoses, getting dirty, managing fermentation temperature and yeast selection, ageing the wine, perfecting the blend, fining, filtering, stabilising and bottling.
Alternatively, you could be one of many winemakers working in tandem at a large facility. Winemakers often need to host tastings, work with marketing teams and help out with sales pitches too, so it’s a varied role.
Skills
You will need to develop a comprehensive understanding of chemistry and microbiology. An excellent sense of smell and taste is also crucial. The role typically requires physical fitness – you’re signing up for a lifetime of calloused hands and hard graft – along with problem solving, teamwork and leadership skills.
Career Progression
Some winemakers start out as cellar hands or apprentices. They learn on the job, before eventually becoming assistant winemakers and then senior winemakers or head winemakers. Many take oenology courses at leading universities, but gaining practical experience is also vital.
Lots of leading winemakers have done harvests in various regions around the world, gaining insights into different approaches. A WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines will also broaden your appreciation of different winemaking styles.