Submission #1424

Stolpman Vineyards, a family-owned winery located in the heart of Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley, is seeking a passionate and ambitious individual to join our team as a Winery Management Apprentice. This unique and all-encompassing opportunity offers a comprehensive training program which will provide exposure and insight into all aspects of winery operations, including but not limited to tasting room hospitality, shipping and logistics, customer service, and winemaking/production. The apprenticeship is designed to provide a well-rounded and holistic understanding of the complex and seasonally varied wine industry, and therefore will be divided into two phases: Direct-to-Consumer and Winery/Production.
Direct-to-Consumer (Employment Start Date - August 2025): During this phase, you will engage in full-time employment split between front-of-house tasting room hospitality, shipping and logistics, and event implementation and execution. You first will receive training in all aspects of hospitality and customer service while being educated on the core tenants of our farming, practices in the vineyard, and winemaking. This will result in a deep understanding of each of the 35 distinct bottlings that are produced across the Stolpman, So Fresh, and Combe brands, and ensure the ability to provide a welcoming and educational experience for our guests. Additionally, you will receive training in Wine Direct commerce platform and Point-of-Sale system, wine club management, and fulfillment software. Additional responsibilities will include managing and ensuring the accuracy of on-site inventory, packing and shipping of customer orders, transfers between the tasting room and offsite warehouses, as well as assisting in the preparation and execution of large events and seminars.
Winery (August 2025 - December 2025): In the second phase of the apprenticeship, you will have the opportunity to work alongside Stolpman's three winemakers and harvest intern team in production of the 2024 vintage. You will gain hands-on experience in the winemaking process, from grape selection to fermentation and barrel aging. Roles and responsibilities include:
• Equipment Sanitation and Cleaning
• Wine / Juice Transfers
• Operation of Grape Crush Equipment
• Loading and overseeing of tanks and presses
• Wine / Juice Additions
• Lab work
• Other Cellar Work including barrel topping, cleaning, and racking
• Fermentation maintenance

Upon successful completion of the Stolpman Winery Management Apprenticeship, candidates will be equipped with the necessary experience and skills to successfully seek employment in all aspects of winery operations. Ideally, and contingent upon performance and evaluation by management, candidates may be offered ongoing employment at Stolpman Vineyards at completion of the Winery Management Apprenticeship.
Qualifications and Requirements:
• Passion for the wine industry and a desire to gain knowledge and skills in all aspects of winery operations.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to provide exceptional customer service.
• Attention to detail and the ability to manage inventory and logistics accurately and effectively.
• Willingness to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, with an ability to handle rapidly changing priorities and responsibilities.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Capacity to lift and carry 50 pounds and stand for extended periods of time.
• Availability and desire to commit to the completion of the full duration of the program.

Compensation:
• $25-35/Hour Direct-to-Consumer Phase
• $1000/Week Winery/Production Phase

If you are ready to launch a career in the wine industry and gain valuable hands-on experience in a world-class winery, we invite you to apply for the Winery Management Apprenticeship at Stolpman Vineyards. Please submit your resume, a cover letter highlighting your interest and relevant experience, and any additional supporting documents to Brett@StolpmanVineyards.com.