2026 Harvest Intern - $500 Housing Stipend

Job Description:

Interested in an invigorating, fun, and educational experience in winemaking? Then we have an opportunity for you! Due to a cancellation, we are seeking two more highly motivated individuals to join our winemaking team for approximately three to four months for the harvest of 2026.

North Coast Wine Company, located in Sonoma County just north of Healdsburg, is a premium wine producer focusing on the wines that make this region great: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay (plus a little Gruner Veltliner for fun). In addition to our own twelve-acre Cabernet vineyard, we source fruit from vineyards throughout the region. Total production this year should approach 1000 tons. We produce a number of large-lot wines for custom crush clients but also craft smaller lots (a couple tons to 20 tons in size) for our own, ultra-premium, award-winning label Outerbound and a few super-premium clients. This diversity means that you will get to participate in both large- and small-scale winemaking at the same place!! Check us out at

This is a great opportunity to work closely with the wine making team and gain experience in all aspects of high-quality wine making. Duties and Responsibilities will include:
•  Crushpad work (fruit processing, cleaning crushpad equipment, etc.)
•  Fermentation management (pumpovers/punchdowns, yeast/nutrient additions, sampling, etc)
•  Pressing, including “digging” tanks and cleaning the press
•  Barrel work including barrel downs and topping
•  General winery upkeep and sanitation
•  Working in an indoor (mostly) and outdoor environment
•  Lifting 50 lbs., occasionally up to 75 lbs. with assistance
•  Being on your feet for many hours of the day

We also take the educational side of the intern job seriously. There are no secrets in winemaking, so we are happy to answer any questions you have about what we are doing and why we are doing it. We will also squeeze in a few wine tastings at the beginning and end of harvest. And we provide at least one meal per week to keep you energized.

Applicants should be detail oriented, dependable, used to hard work, and fun. Our ideal candidate can work well alone and as a positive team member and should possess, or be in the process of acquiring, a degree in Enology, Viticulture, or a related field and/or have at least one harvest’s experience. All applicants must also be willing to work flexible hours including early mornings, night shift, and weekends. The internship will likely begin in mid-August with a predicted ending date in late-November or December. Applicants should be authorized to work in the U.S. or be eligible for a work visa without sponsorship (typically a J1 visa). We cannot provide housing but do have some local contacts and will do what we can to help the successful applicant secure it. Applicants must have, at a minimum, good conversational English skills.

Must be at least 21 years of age. Salary range is $20 to $23 (with lots of overtime) and includes a $500 housing stipend. Incomplete applications and/or those not meeting the minimum requirements listed above will not be considered.

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