Senior Winemaker

Job description

#BeExtraordinary At Andrew Peller Limited (APL), our mission is to be Canada’s #1 branded wine and craft beverage company by delivering the perfect brand experience for every lifestyle and occasion. Through our commitment to excellence, honouring our roots, owning it, fostering belonging and driving to succeed, we inspire teammates to be extraordinary every day. Who We Are We are one of Canada's largest and oldest wine companies with a rich heritage in quality winemaking. We produce some of Canada's most recognized brands and offer our teammates a challenging and rewarding employment experience. At Andrew Peller Limited, we believe great wine starts with great people, great places, and a passion for doing things extraordinarily well. We’re looking for an experienced Senior Winemaker, BC to provide leadership across our British Columbia winemaking team while leading the winemaking program at Tinhorn Creek. This is an opportunity to shape the future of a diverse BC wine portfolio, bring together talented winemakers across multiple properties, and lead the creation of wines that reflect the distinct character of their vineyards, brands and markets. If you’re a passionate winemaker and people leader who thrives at the intersection of wine quality, innovation, strategy and collaboration, we’d love to hear from you. Location - this role will be in the Okanagan Valley, moving between our estates and vineyards in the Kelowna and Oliver areas. Travel is expected and a car allowance will be given. Tinhorn is based in Oliver BC however we do not require the successful candidate to be located in Oliver. Startdate - We are flexible on timeline and would also consider candidates that are only available after the BC Harvest season. What This Teammate will do Lead BC Winemaking • Provide leadership, direction and coaching to the BC Winemaking team, establishing clear expectations around wine quality, operational performance and business priorities. • Translate the Company's winemaking vision and strategy into actionable priorities across the BC wine portfolio. • Lead, coach and develop BC Winemakers, building technical capability, leadership effectiveness and succession strength. • Foster a collaborative culture that encourages knowledge sharing, innovation, constructive challenge and continuous improvement. • Establish and promote consistent winemaking standards, processes and best practices while respecting the unique identity and positioning of each winery and brand. • Lead cross-winery tastings and sensory discussions to evaluate quality, style and opportunities for improvement. • Partner with Viticulture, Operations and Supply on grape quality, harvest planning, production requirements and long-term supply strategy. • Stay current with emerging winemaking techniques, technology, industry trends and consumer preferences. Lead the Tinhorn Creek Winemaking Program • Lead all aspects of the Tinhorn Creek winemaking program, from grape sourcing and harvest through fermentation, maturation, blending, stabilization, filtration and bottling. • Establish and maintain wine styles and quality standards that reflect the Tinhorn Creek brand, vineyards and market positioning. • Develop and execute the annual harvest strategy, including grape intake, production planning, staffing, equipment and cellar requirements. • Lead fermentation management, laboratory analysis review, barrel programs, blending and final wine preparation. • Lead sensory evaluation and blending decisions to ensure wines consistently achieve established quality and stylistic objectives. • Manage wine specifications, inventory, barrel programs and bulk wine. • Plan and coordinate bottling requirements in partnership with Operations, Supply and other stakeholders. • Lead new wine development, product improvement and innovation initiatives in partnership with Marketing and Sales. • Ensure Tinhorn Creek wines meet VQA approval and all applicable quality and regulatory requirements. • Continuously identify opportunities to elevate wine quality, strengthen the brand and enhance the overall Tinhorn Creek wine program. Shape Harvest & Production Strategy • Provide leadership and coordination for BC harvest planning in partnership with Winemaking, Viticulture, Operations and Supply. • Support grape supply balancing and allocation decisions across BC wineries based on quality, brand requirements, production needs and commercial priorities. • Ensure production plans appropriately balance wine quality, consumer expectations, cost and operational requirements. • Identify production risks and opportunities and work cross-functionally to develop solutions. Build & Develop Great Teams • Lead, coach and mentor the BC Winemaking team, creating clear expectations, accountability and development opportunities. • Build winemaking bench strength and support succession planning for critical technical and leadership roles. • Provide technical mentorship to Winemakers and Assistant Winemakers and create opportunities to broaden their experience across brands, wine styles and winery operations. • Lead and develop the Tinhorn Creek cellar and winemaking team through training, performance management, work assignment and development. • Create an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing environment where people are encouraged to contribute ideas and continuously improve. Drive Operational & Financial Performance • Develop, monitor and manage the Tinhorn Creek winemaking operating budget. • Provide input into broader BC winemaking budgets, resource requirements and priorities. • Identify capital requirements and support the development, prioritization, procurement and commissioning of winemaking equipment and technology. • Identify opportunities to improve productivity, efficiency and cost effectiveness without compromising wine quality. • Partner with Operations to optimize winery processes, capacity, equipment utilization and production planning. • Develop, maintain and continuously improve Standard Operating Procedures and winemaking processes. Be a Brand & Industry Ambassador • Partner with Marketing, Sales and Estate teams to ensure winemaking decisions support brand strategy, consumer expectations and commercial objectives. • Participate in tastings, customer and trade events, media activities and other brand-building initiatives. • Act as a senior technical and brand ambassador for Tinhorn Creek and the broader BC wine portfolio. • Represent the Company and its brands at industry conferences, associations, competitions and other relevant events. • Build strong relationships with growers, suppliers, industry partners, regulatory organizations and other external stakeholders. What You will Bring • A degree or recognized qualification in Oenology, Viticulture, Wine Science or a related discipline. • 10+ years of progressive winemaking experience, preferably within premium wine production and across multiple wine styles. • 5+ years of demonstrated people leadership and management experience, with experience leading Winemakers or senior technical professionals strongly preferred. • A strong technical foundation across the full winemaking process, from vineyard and grape assessment through fermentation, maturation, blending and bottling. • Strong understanding of viticulture and the relationship between vineyard practices, grape quality and wine style. • Proven ability to develop, coach and mentor high-performing winemaking and technical teams. • Highly developed sensory evaluation skills and the ability to clearly articulate wine quality, style and technical considerations. • Experience balancing wine quality, brand objectives, commercial requirements, cost and operational efficiency. • Experience with budgeting, capital planning and operational performance management. • Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills. • The ability to influence and collaborate effectively across Operations, Viticulture, Marketing, Sales, Supply and other functions. • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build credibility with employees, senior leaders and external stakeholders. • The ability to manage multiple priorities and make sound decisions in a fast-paced, seasonal environment. • Strong knowledge of applicable wine regulations, VQA requirements, quality systems and industry standards. • A demonstrated commitment to innovation, continuous improvement and best-in-class winemaking practices. What You Can Expect This is a hands-on senior leadership role in one of Canada's most exciting wine regions. You'll have the opportunity to influence winemaking strategy across a diverse BC portfolio while directly shaping the future of Tinhorn Creek. The role requires flexibility during harvest and other critical production periods, including extended and variable hours. You'll work in an active winery and cellar environment and must be comfortable with the physical and sensory demands of winemaking. Why Andrew Peller Limited? We’re proud to be part of Canada’s wine industry and to bring together people who care deeply about their craft, their teams and the experiences they create. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We’re committed to excellence, honouring our roots, owning our responsibilities, fostering belonging and driving to succeed. If you're ready to bring your expertise, leadership and passion for winemaking to a role where you can make a meaningful impact across British Columbia, we want to hear from you. Compensation package includes base salary, bonus plan, RRSP matching, health and wellness programs and benefits, discount and monthly gift card as well as other great perks. #APSJ We are conducting an internal and external search simultaneously. We wish to thank all applicants for their interest; only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Accommodation: Andrew Peller Limited is committed to meeting the needs of persons with temporary and/or permanent disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We are happy to discuss any need for accommodation in the workplace and will make an effort to meet those needs in a timely manner by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility in the areas of information, communications, and employment. If you require an accommodation to apply or interview for a position, please email Equal Opportunity Employment: At Andrew Peller Limited, we are committed to creating and celebrating a culture of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to ensuring every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to employment without discrimination or harassment because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences, marital status, family status or disability. This role is being posted to fill an existing vacancy.