Vintage Winery Cellar Hand

Job Title: Vintage Winery Cellar Hand
Employer: Poulter Family HB Winery Limited (trading as Poulter Group)

Location: Hawke's Bay, New Zealand - 3024 State Highway 50, RD1, Hastings 4171
Position Type: Fixed-term, full-time seasonal employment for Vintage 2027
Number of Positions Available: 20 (19 cellar-based and 1 lab-based)
Hourly Pay Rate: $28.00 – $32.00 per hour, depending on experience (paid weekly)

Working Hours & Shifts:

• Guaranteed Minimum Hours: 40 hours per week guaranteed
• Expected Working Hours: 40 hours per week, standard schedule
• Peak Shift Hours: Up to a maximum of 72 hours per week (e.g., 6 days × 12-hour shifts) during peak harvest windows.
• Flexibility Required: Rotating shifts, extended hours, weekends, and public holidays as dictated by seasonal vintage intake.

About the Employer
Poulter Group is a 100% family-owned New Zealand business with operations spanning orchards, vineyards, winemaking, bottling and produce distribution. We are committed to producing quality products through practical teamwork, high operating standards and a focus on safety, sustainability and continuous improvement. We are seeking reliable and hands-on Vintage Winery Cellar Hands to join our cellar team for the 2027 vintage season at our Hawke’s Bay winery.

Employment Periods
Fixed-term seasonal employment for approximately 3 months (11–13 weeks) between mid-January 2027 and mid-April 2027. Positions will be offered across staggered commencement intakes starting in mid-to-late January 2027, with exact start dates confirmed in individual employment offers.

Role Purpose
To support winery production during the 2027 vintage season, assisting with grape processing, fermentation, wine handling, routine laboratory analysis, cleaning and other cellar operations during the seasonal harvest peak.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

• Assist with daily cellar operations, including tank transfers, racking, filtration, additions, gassing, barrel work and cleaning.
• Support harvest activities, including grape receival, pressing, fermentation monitoring, and juice and wine handling.
• For lab-based assignments, conduct routine analysis of juice and wine samples, record results and complete data entry accurately.
• Assist with loading and unloading tankers and operate pumps, valves and cellar systems in accordance with winery procedures.
• Clean and sanitise winery equipment, tanks, laboratory equipment and work areas as required.
• Operate forklifts and cellar machinery safely where appropriately licensed and trained.
• Monitor work processes and report any equipment issues, process concerns or wine-quality observations to senior cellar staff.
• Follow established food safety, hygiene, quality-control and traceability procedures.
• Work closely with the cellar team and winemakers, following instructions to support safe and efficient operations throughout vintage.

Health & Safety

• Demonstrate and promote a strong commitment to health, safety, and well-being, following all company policies, procedures, and legal requirements.
• Identify and understand key hazards and risks associated with cellar work and the vintage environment, taking appropriate steps to manage them safely.
• Report all hazards, incidents, injuries, illnesses, or unsafe behaviour promptly through the correct channels.
• Participate in required health and safety training, briefings, and daily operational refreshers.

Requirements
Skills & Competencies:

• At least one full season (approximately three months) of relevant experience in a winery, cellar, laboratory or similar seasonal vintage environment within the last three years.
• Ability to follow procedures, maintain accurate records and work carefully with equipment and samples.
• Good communication skills, reliability and a strong team-focused approach.
• Practical problem-solving skills and the ability to work efficiently with a team in a busy, fast-paced harvest environment.
• Forklift licence or the willingness to obtain one.
• Currently studying or with a qualification in Viticulture, Oenology, Wine Science, Food Technology or a related field is advantageous.

Working Conditions

• Fixed-term seasonal employment for the 2027 vintage between mid-January to mid-April 2027, with employment dates confirmed in the offer of employment.
• Work may involve rotating shifts, weekends and public holidays, depending on harvest and production requirements.
• The role involves active physical work, including manual handling, extended standing and working in wet, cold or noisy winery environments.
• Applicants must be able to work safely and follow all workplace health and safety requirements.