Senior Winemaker

Bleasdale Vineyards

Langhorne Creek

Full-time

This opportunity affords the applicant to be involved in one of Australia oldest family-owned wineries, celebrating its 175th birthday in 2025.

Bleasdale was established in Langhorne Creek by Frank Potts in 1850, with his legacy still being carried on with 5th & 6th Generation family members working within the business today. Bleasdale is recognized as a leader within the Langhorne Creek wine region and as a driving force within the South Australian wine industry.

With a distinctive winemaking ethos, respecting regional typicity and varietal expression, Bleasdale has built a strong reputation of producing high quality table wines. This reputation has been bolstered with recent accolades including The Jimmy Watson trophy, Halliday’s Winery of the Year along with numerous trophies and medals.

The role of Senior Winemaker will come with the overall responsibility to respect the history of Bleasdale and also help to facilitate the progress of the brand within the changing state of the Australian wine industry.

Bleasdale is a multifaceted business and currently crushes approximately 1400~ tonnes per annum, split between in house and contract processing. The estate fruit is sourced from 55ha of vineyard, supplemented with a number of well-established growers from both the Langhorne Creek and Adelaide Hills regions.  Bleasdale has an onsite bottling facility, which caters for both company and contract bottling operations.

Reporting to the General Manager, the Senior Winemaker will be responsible for the leadership and effective management of the winemaking and viticultural activities within the business. Working closely with the current winemaking and viticultural team, and liaising with the bottling line manager, the senior winemaker will ensure that all operations throughout the winemaking process are managed correctly driving an outcome which is consistent with the high standard of production.

Primary key tasks the Senior Winemaker will be responsible for are as follows;

• Supervise all winemaking operations
• Lead the winemaking, cellar and maintenance teams
• Work alongside the viticulturist to maintain grower relationships and fruit security
• Developing and working within a rolling capital budget
• Managing production quantities
• Staff Rostering
• Managing Operational efficiencies
• Fruit quality assessment/ harvest scheduling
• Liaising with contract clients
• Winery production planning and Vintage logistics
• WHS management
• Wine show entries
• Label approvals and tasting notes
• Continue to work on Bleasdale’s sustainability credentials
• Preventative maintenance
• Brand promotion, attending industry seminars and functions
• Other tasks as required by the business

As this is a senior leadership role the following previous experience and attributes are required

• Tertiary Qualification in Viticulture and Oenology
• 10 years relevant experience
• Valid forklift/driver’s license
• Proven management and team leadership experience
• WHS training
• Capacity to work extended seasonal hours
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills
• Sensory evaluation/quality training ie. AWAC, Wineshow Judging.
• Strong technical wine knowledge
• Dynamic approach to winemaking