Join us (Careers)

VinLink Assistant Winemaker – permanent position

We have an exciting opportunity to join VinLink Marlborough as an Assistant Winemaker, an additional role created to provide pivotal support within our wine production team.  We are looking for a professional, organised, and motivated person from the wine industry who enjoys a team environment to work closely with our winemaking, cellar, and laboratory teams.  If this sounds like the opportunity you’ve been looking for, then keep reading!

VinLink is a large, growing winery located in the Riverlands Industrial Estate just 10 minutes from the centre of Blenheim. Our winery has been specifically designed and built for Marlborough’s signature grape, Sauvignon Blanc, and crushes more than 25,000 tonnes each year.  It’s an exciting time to be joining us as we have had some internal promotions and new positions created due to our continuous growth.

 We are looking for a candidate with the following attributes

- Have a minimum of 2 years’ experience as an Assistant Winemaker/Oenologist, with experience in a wine laboratory or similar.
- A formal qualification in winemaking, or a related field is required.
- Have a great work ethic together with a strong safety and quality compliance approach to your work.
- Have a positive attitude and hands-on approach to deal with anything that comes your way.
- Experience using winery software programs (preferably Vintrace) and the Microsoft Office Suite is essential.
- Be an effective communicator with sharp attention to detail.
- A passion and curiosity for wine is a must!

Duties and responsibilities:

- Supporting the Wine Production, Laboratory, and Cellar Managers in facilitating wine production requirements throughout the year.
- Assist the Production winemakers in all winemaking requirements, specifically; job notes, Vintrace, record keeping and dry goods management.
- Assist relevant managers with the recruiting, inducting, and training of new and seasonal workers.
- Ensure production schedules and operations are carried out in a safe, efficient manner within agreed timeframes and to documented quality standards ensuring the integrity of the wine.
- Available to work 12-hour days, 6 days a week within our vintage period, typically between March – May and available to work either day or night shift.
- Available to work a minimum of 40 hours per week outside of vintage and up to 74 hours per week during our vintage peak times.
- Hourly rate of $30 - $ 36 depending experience, on a permanent contract.

As well as a competitive salary, we also have some attractive incentives including an extra paid week off after vintage to recuperate, selected health Insurance, subsidised gym membership to name a few. We value and encourage learning and offer a variety of opportunities for further training and development in this role. 

If you are ready to take the next step in the wine industry and are looking for somewhere to hone your current skill set, send your CV and cover letter telling us why you’d like to work with us to job@vinlink.co.nz

Applications close Monday 4^th December 2023

Please note: Applicants must have a current NZ working visa or be eligible to work in NZ.