About McLaren Vintners
McLaren Vintners is a leading premium contract winemaking facility located in McLaren Vale, with capacity to process up to 5,000 tonnes of fruit annually.
We work with an established portfolio of highly regarded wine brands, processing fruit predominantly from McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills. Wines produced by our clients have collectively received more than 100 trophies over the past 10 years.
Our business also includes a bulk wine arm, creating further opportunities across wine production, sourcing, sales and movement.
The Opportunity
McLaren Vintners is seeking a highly connected and commercially focused Senior Winemaker to help drive the next stage of our growth.
This is more than a traditional winemaking position. While technical winemaking expertise and team leadership are fundamental, a major focus of the role will be to:
- Attract new contract winemaking and storage customers.
- Strengthen and expand relationships with existing customers.
- Identify opportunities within the bulk wine market.
- Contribute to business planning and growth strategies.
- Develop new revenue opportunities that complement our existing operations.
The successful candidate will bring an extensive network of industry relationships and a strong understanding of the commercial wine landscape. They will be comfortable representing McLaren Vintners in the market, initiating conversations and converting industry relationships into genuine business opportunities.
Reporting to the General Manager, the Senior Winemaker will work closely with the McLaren Vintners Board and our winemaking, winery operations, cellar and laboratory teams.
The successful candidate will initially manage a small customer portfolio while another member of the winemaking team is on maternity leave. Following their return, the role will retain responsibility for leading the winemaking team, developing customer relationships and driving commercial growth.
Key Responsibilities
Customer and Commercial Growth
- Actively identify, pursue and secure new contract winemaking, processing and storage customers.
- Use established industry relationships to build a strong pipeline of prospective customers and commercial opportunities.
- Represent McLaren Vintners across the wine industry and build the profile of the business.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with wine producers, growers, suppliers, buyers, distributors and other industry participants.
- Identify opportunities across our bulk wine operations, including sourcing, production, sales and movement of wine.
- Work with the General Manager and Board to develop and implement business plans and growth strategies.
- Identify new services, partnerships and complementary business initiatives that make effective use of the facility’s capabilities.
- Maintain a strong understanding of industry conditions, customer needs and emerging market opportunities.
- Support the preparation of commercial proposals, customer agreements and new business opportunities.
Winemaking and Leadership
- Lead, support and develop a small winemaking team.
- Oversee the production of premium wines from both warm- and cool-climate regions.
- Manage an allocated customer portfolio and maintain strong, responsive client relationships.
- Coordinate closely with winery operations, cellar and laboratory teams to ensure customer requirements are delivered efficiently and to a high standard.
- Provide practical and commercially appropriate technical winemaking guidance.
- Maintain effective production planning, scheduling, record-keeping and communication.
- Contribute to management and Board reporting.
- Promote a positive, collaborative and safety-focused workplace culture.