Why We Love It
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$69,880Potential Avg. Salary
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-1.9%Job Growth Rate
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Green JobsCareer Attribute
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Growing IndustryCareer Attribute
The role of a vineyard manager is very hands-on and requires effective management of various aspects of vineyard operations on large scale multi-use farming facilities.
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What is a Vineyard Manager?
Duties
As an experienced vineyard manager, you would need to perform the following tasks:
- Function as a representative of the vineyards and undertake tours for guests and markets, make deals with external vendors and attend professional meetings in a knowledgeable and approachable manner.
- Have bi-weekly or monthly meetings with senior management and directors to assess performance levels, results for different client accounts and make plans for future engagements.
- Track down and resolve challenges that emerge on the vineyard, and develop detailed recommendations that will result in timely and cost-effective results for quality output.
- Regularly analyse existing data management systems and apply data to make accurate forecasts for vineyard operations and budget planning.
- Be the interpreter and enforcer for organizational protocols regarding labour and establish safety guidelines, along with work safety training workshops.
Day In The Life
The vineyard manager typically takes the lead on all viticulture operations, which includes the quality production of grapes, overseeing the tasks assigned to staff and ensuring compliance with applicable guidelines for effective grape production. You will spend time developing and executing the best possible pest and disease control programs in line with official pest management practices and sustainable agricultural practices.
As the manager of the vineyard, you will be in frequent contact with the winemaker to understand and nurture unique grape characteristics that are required to begin the winemaking process. In addition, you are expected to provide honest feedback and support to wine farmers on the property. You need to be a well-versed self-starter who is not afraid to jump into the fray and execute planting, harvesting and everything else that comes up. To be successful, a vineyard manager has to have a passion for growing grapes outdoors, and be good at multi-tasking and providing instructions to vineyard workers on the team.
Work Schedule And Typical Hours
Since this job means working from ground up, you need to be comfortable taking on work at odd hours, and live in proximity to the vineyard you are employed by – usually, it’s a countryside setting. You need to also be familiar with operating various farming equipment and machinery on flat land and hilly terrain. Vineyard managers are often exposed to humid and cold weather conditions, along with farming fertilizers and chemicals.
Growth Of The Job
There is a rise in the growth of grape products in the US economy, and it will produce more than a million jobs in the years to come. Americans have increased their appreciation of quality wines, resulting in solid job prospects for viticulture as well as wine making.
Typical Employers
Typically employers in the wine industry include vineyard management companies, wine production companies, government bodies, academic institutions or you might be independently employed.
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How To Become a Vineyard Manager
To be a vineyard manager, you need to have some specialised training. Based on the type of vineyard or winery you are working at, you will also have to show a certificate, bachelor’s or associate’s degree to qualify for jobs. There are several vocational schools and community colleges that now offer programs in viticulture and winemaking to enhance your skillset. Most of these programs prepare you for different roles in the wine industry, and gain an edge over other competition. You should ideally have a bachelor’s in subjects such as oenology, viticulture or horticulture. Your coursework will involve foundational education in agricultural practices, chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, pruning vineyards, identifying vineyard soils and propagating grapevine production. All parts of vineyard operations are usually demonstrated, from working on the farmland to marketing and branding wine profiles.
To be a great vineyard manager, you need to have outstanding skills in organization and planning, along with the ability to work in a team. Having superior people skills is also beneficial to build trusting relationships with outside vendors and different levels in the company. You should be comfortable working with computer applications and company software like Ag Code, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc. and possess a valid driver’s license. While it is always good to have previous vineyard experience, your openness to gaining new skills, ability to adapt to different working environments such as irregular work schedule and commuting between vineyards, will set you apart from the rest.
Vineyard Manager Salary Data
We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.
National Anual Salary
Low Range
$45,930Average
$69,880High Range
$113,140National Hourly Wage
Low Range
$22/hrAverage
$34/hrHigh Range
$54/hrHow do Vineyard Manager salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Vineyard Manager's can make an average annual salary of $69,880, or $34 per hour. On the lower end, they can make $45,930 or $22 per hour, perhaps when just starting out or based on the state you live in.
Salary Rankings And Facts
#200 Nationally for All Careers
Above Average Salary Nationally
Highest Education Among Vineyard Managers
- 0.9% Doctorate
- 3% Masters
- 18.3% Bachelors
- 9.1% Associates
- 19.8% College
- 36.9% High School
- 12% Less than High School
Job Growth Projections and Forecast
2014 Total Jobs
929,8002024 Est. Jobs
911,700Job Growth Rate
-1.9%Est. New Jobs
-18,100How does Vineyard Manager job growth stack up to other jobs across the country? By 2024, there will be a change of -18,100 jobs for a total of 911,700 people employed in the career nationwide. This is a -1.9% change in growth over the next ten years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Above Average.
Growth Rankings And Facts
#651 Nationally for All Careers
Above Avg. Growth Nationally
What Companies Employ The Most Vineyard Managers
| Industry | Current Jobs | New Jobs Needed | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-employed workers | 657,700 | 8,500 | 9% |
| Crop production | 152,000 | -18,900 | -19% |
| Animal production and aquaculture | 105,600 | -7,800 | -8% |
