Wine Cellar Job Training Program Details
Wine Cellar Job Training Programs give individuals the opportunity to have a genuine hands-on experience during the wine harvest. CAEP Wine Cellar Job Training Program host wineries provide a training plan that outlines what the Wine Cellar Job Training Program participant will be exposed to during their program. Wine Cellar Job Training Program participants in many cases will be able to add their goals for the program to this training plan by discussing with their hosts and their CAEP Coordinator.
As a Wine Cellar Job Training Program participant, you will gain hands-on experience working in the cellar and learning about the important techniques that go into creating a quality wine. Wine Cellar Job Training Program positions can be physically demanding, which involves heavy lifting. Participants can expect long hours during grape-pressing, or "crush" time.
This program can include:
- Vineyard sampling
- Sanitizing tanks
- Receiving grapes
- Crushing/de-stemming
- Juice racking
- Red pump-over
- Stirring barrels
- Punch downs
- Additions
- Emptying red fermenters
- Learning to drain and shovel out tanks
- Pressing
- Barreling juice
- Topping barrels
- Racking wine
- Wine filtration
- Lees filtration
Program Availability:
Mid-August through mid-December (depending on climate and location).
Skills
Some of the skills learned on this program may include:
- Identify different styles of wine
- Identify major factors affecting wine quality
- Identify and understand microorganisms – beneficial and detrimental
- Identify barrel types and understand effects on wine
- Understand functions of winery equipment
- Understand the process of alcohol fermentation
- Identify and perform wine filtration techniques
- Identify and perform wine development and blending
- Identify and carry out sanitation procedures
- Identify and practice winery safety procedures - breathing apparatus, caustic products, and accident prevention
*Actual skills learned will vary by placement and previous experience
