Vineyard worker

Vineyard workers carry out manual activities related to cultivation, propagation of grape varieties and the production and/or packaging of wines.

A vineyard worker typically does the following:

• plants vines and other plants using hand tools and farm machines
• builds trellises for climbing vines
• operates farm machines to cultivate, fertilise, spray and harvest grapes
• sprays vines and other plants with chemicals to control weed growth, insects, fungus growth and diseases
• prunes vines
• irrigates land for crop growth
• selects and picks grapes according to size and ripeness, and discards rotting and over-ripened produce
• grades, sorts, bunches and packs produce into containers
• loads filled grape containers onto trucks.

Vineyard workers work mostly outdoors, under different weather conditions. They carry out tasks that can be repetitive and sometimes physically demanding. They may stand for hours harvesting and pruning. Cleaning is also an important part of the job.

Vineyard workers usually work in a team led by a vineyard supervisor. They work a normal eight hour day, however, they sometimes may be expected to work throughout the night and on weekends to ensure grapes are in perfect condition for the winemaker.

The following job titles also refer to vineyard worker:

grape harvester
grape picker
worker in a vineyard
winery worker
vineyard labourer

No formal educational credential is required to work as vineyard worker. Some on the job training may be provided. A diploma in viticulture or a vocational certificate in a related agriculture or horticulture field might be helpful.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Vineyard worker is a Skill level 1 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to vineyard worker.

crop production worker
garden labourer
equine worker
forest worker
livestock worker

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of vineyard worker. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of vineyard worker with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

vineyard machinery operator
vineyard supervisor
hop farmer
crop production manager
agronomic crop production team leader

These skills are necessary for the role of vineyard worker.

• Harvest grapes: Harvest wine grapes.
• Plant vine yards: Plant vine yards perform planting preparation activites, plant vines and install trellis.
• Execute fertilisation: Carry out fertilisation tasks by hand or using appropriate equipment according to fertilisation instructions taking into account the environmental, health and safety regulations and procedures.
• Participate in vine maintenance: Participate in the maintenance of vines, trellising, pruning, weeding and watering.
• Perform hand pruning: Efficiently perform hand pruning by using specific pruning tools like shears, lopping shears, saw, a small pocket scale to weigh the pruned material, and twine.
• Perform trellis repairs: Perform repairs on trellis in order to support grapes. Secure grapes to the trellis using a twine in case the grape wine should fall from the trellis and not break.
• Tend vines: Plant, thin, weed, sucker and tie vines.
• Manage canopy: Manage the parts of the vine visible above ground to improve grape yields, quality, and vigour. Prevent grape diseases, uneven grape ripening, sunburn, and frost damage.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of vineyard worker. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Organic farming: Principles, techniques and regulations of organic farming. Organic farming or ecological agriculture is an agricultural production method, which places a strong emphasis on environmental protection and ecological balance.
• Agronomy: The study of combining agriculture production and protection and regeneration of natural environment. Includes the principles and methods of critical selection and adequate application methods for sustainability in agriculture.
• Fertilisation principles: The study of plant, soil structure, climatic and environmental issues in agronomical production.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of vineyard worker. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Assist bottling: Prepare wine for bottling. Assist with bottling and corking.
• Propagate plants: Carry out propagation activities by applying appropriate propagation methods such as grafted cutting propagation or generative propagation considering the plant type. Carry out propagation control considering the required terms and conditions for specific plant type.
• Provide agri-touristic services: Provide services for agri-tourism activities on the farm. This may include providing B & B services, small scale catering, supporting agri-tourism activities and leisure such as riding, locally guide tours, giving information on farm production and history, selling of small-scale local farm products.
• Present the farm facilities: Perform customer adapted presentations of the farm organization and farm processes taking under consideration the farm sustainability and local environment.
• Sanitise winery area: Clean and sanitise the winery using chemical, water hoses, brooms, brushes, and shovels. Safely use caustic solution to remove tartar material from refrigeration equipment.
• Tend press operation: Operate press that separates juice from pomace. Start up the conveyor that transports pomace to the disintegrating machine.
• Operate wine pumps: Connect pumps between wine tanks and turn valves to pump wine from one tank to the other. Pump the wine from fermenting and fortifying tanks to cooling tanks, then on to clarifying tanks when cooled, and add appropriate chemicals to wine. Pump the clarified wines through filtering tanks and a pasteuriser. Pump the pasteurised wine through another filtering device to collect sediment and precipitates. Finally, transfer the finished wine into tanks in the bottling room.
• Grow plants: Carry out plant growing activities. Carry out grow control considering the required terms and conditions for specific plant type.
• Maintain tanks for viticulture: Clean and sanitise the interior of tanks and hoses using chemicals. Remove and install manhole covers from the top of the tank, and tank fans made of solid or expanded metal. Wash the exterior of tanks using chemical cleaning agents. Sanitise and sterilise fermenting and fortifying tanks and railroad tank cars, using an air hose and soda ash.
• Execute disease and pest control activities: Execute disease and pest control activities using conventional or biological methods taking into account the climate, plant or crop type, health and safety and environmental regulations. Store and handle pesticides in accordance with recommendation and legislation.
• Assist with plant propagation: Assist in planting local native plants for revegetation works according to an yearly schedule.

9211 – Crop farm labourers

---

References

1. ESCO
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. Vineyard Worker | Your Career
4. Vineyard Worker | Jobs and Skills WA
5. Featured image: Photo by Lasseter Winery on Unsplash