Exciting Winemaking Internship Opportunity!

Job Description:

Job Description:
We are a small, boutique winery in Sonoma County producing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, and Roussanne. We think wine should taste great – with every vintage and every grape, this is our ultimate priority and our greatest motivation. We hope to build a harvest team that is efficient and energetic with a great sense of humor and a commitment to quality in both work ethic and wine. We are a young and energetic team who possess a singular vision of making the best wines we possibly can in a given vintage.

For more information please go to our website:

Job duties will extend to all aspects of general cellar work and beyond. Including rackings and barrel work, processing fruit, cellar sanitation, fermentation monitoring, maturity sampling, light vineyard work, lab analysis, espresso machine processing, and more. The duration of the position will be approximately from August 1st to November 1st , depending on the timing of harvest. Starting and ending dates are flexible and subject to change. Wage based on experience. Part of the compensation package is lunch. The winery will provide lunch on most fruit processing days, plus more. Lunch can be anything from Vietnamese take out to in-house prepared BBQ.

Qualifications should include:

- General knowledge of winemaking practices
- Team oriented person adaptable to small winery conditions
- Degree in or current study of enology and viticulture (preferred but not required)
- Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs on a routine basis
- Able to perform physical labor involved in cellar work
- Willingness to work long, variable hours, at times 7 days a week
- Devotion to quality greatly appreciated
- Interest in pursuing a career in winemaking/grape growing

Testimony from a past vintage interns:

"If you have the opportunity to intern at Donelan Family Wines, do it! This was my first harvest and I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to the industry. You will be part of a small, close-knit team and be involved in every aspect of the winemaking process. I helped with filtering and bottling in late July and visited several of their vineyard sites throughout Sonoma County to assist with crop estimates and maturity sampling. I got experience with all aspects of cellar work as the fruit was taken through crush, fermentation, pressing, and barreling, and I even helped with lab work on several occasions. It was awesome seeing the fruit progress from vineyard to barrel, and getting to taste the wines alongside the winemaker as they evolved during fermentation and in barrel was really memorable. Additionally, the quality of the wines is superb. If you’re looking for a well-rounded, hands-on learning experience at a small, quality-driven winery, do a harvest at Donelan. Work hard, ask questions, and enjoy making some of the best wines in Sonoma County!"

“Donelan Family Wines is a Santa Rosa winery. They prioritize quality over other factors,
leading to the finest production of wine. Syrah and Pinot Noir are the two specialized types of
wine at this winery. As a harvest intern in 2019, I have had a matchless experience. This is due
to the fact that I have had the ability to experience the entire winemaking process from
beginning to end. Although there have been times of rigor or uncertainty, I have succeeded
with the support and assistance from David, the head winemaker, and Chris, the cellar master.
They truly helped create a fun and comfortable work environment for their staff.
Along with the head winemaker and cellar master, you will be working with other
harvest interns. Some perks that are included with the internship are complimentary lunches
and wine tastings. Throughout your internship, you will experience a variety of wines that are
harvested at Donelan. During this time, you will have the opportunity to learn and work in all
different parts of the winery. This can include but is not limited to, working at the cellar,
working in the vineyard, selling wine, and completing lab work.”

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