Abacela's Internship Opportunities
Abacela is a 76 acre Oregon estate winery that pioneered the production of Tempranillo and Albariño as varietal wines in America. Our estate’s Fault Line Vineyards with its hill and valley topography that produces many mesoclimes and soil types has been dubbed “The most interesting vineyard property in Oregon” by others. This setting has permitted us to match old world grapes not previously grown in the region to different microclimate-soil sites. These achievements have contributed greatly to Abacela’s leadership in production of alternative varieties that are now grown and produced by others across the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere in the USA.
We specialize in grapes and wine styles indigenous to the Iberian Peninsula. The vineyards are managed sustainably with limited inputs and are hand harvested. Our vineyard season starts in January with pruning, followed by bud break in spring, and the vines are nurtured and managed until harvest in September and October. This internship is an opportunity learn and experience the science and art of grape growing plus learn and work though harvest in a family owned and operated gravity flow winery that grows and harvests about 200 plus tons of fifteen different interesting grape varieties for the production of 12,000 cases (144,000, 750 ml bottles) of quality wine.
We offer two oppertunities for Internship's, Viticulture-Enology and Winery
Time frame- June 15th - November 15th , 2020 (5 months)
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Soil moisture readings, computer entry of data and discussions with vineyard manager
Reading Leaf Water Potential, data entry and discussed with vineyard manager
Assist with vineyard scouting, monitoring etc
Cluster counts, weights and crop load estimates
Preharvest cluster sampling etc
Harvest including picking, delivery of fruit to winery, machine application and removal of bird netting
Other duties may be assigned
Reading Leaf Water Potential, data entry and discussed with vineyard manager
Assist with vineyard scouting, monitoring etc
Cluster counts, weights and crop load estimates
Preharvest cluster sampling etc
Harvest including picking, delivery of fruit to winery, machine application and removal of bird netting
Other duties may be assigned
QUALIFICATIONS
Viticulture majors preferred but please note this in an integrated viticulture/winemaking internship
Must be able to work mid-June to mid-November
Tractor driving experience is good and experience operating fork lift trucks is a bonus
Must have a valid driver’s license and clean DMV record
Must be a team player and have a strong work ethic.
Students whose primary language is not English must have conversational English at least.
Must be able to work long hours, up to 6 days a week, in different kinds of weather, etc
Must be able to work mid-June to mid-November
Tractor driving experience is good and experience operating fork lift trucks is a bonus
Must have a valid driver’s license and clean DMV record
Must be a team player and have a strong work ethic.
Students whose primary language is not English must have conversational English at least.
Must be able to work long hours, up to 6 days a week, in different kinds of weather, etc
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Ability to listen, follow directions and accurately carry out the project to completion
Ability to walk distances, including steep hillsides
Ability to lift 50 pounds
Must be non-smoker
Ability to walk distances, including steep hillsides
Ability to lift 50 pounds
Must be non-smoker
Stipend is $2200/month. Housing is not provided but assistance is provided for locating housing.
Only three internships are offered; to apply send cover letter and resume to earl@abaclea.com
ABACELA WINERY INTERNSHIP
Time frame- September 1st –November 15th, 2020 (2.5 months)
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Enology interns will assist with preharvest vineyard monitoring, harvest sampling including cluster counts, weights and in-house laboratory testing to measure Brix, pH and total acid and input the data to a computer.
Interns will also be involved in processing of harvested fruit which includes the use of various types of equipment such as forklift, sorting table, escalator, and destemmer/crusher and presses (both basket and membrane) plus the tasting of fermenting wines, punch downs, pump-overs, yeast inoculations, acid and nutrient additions, etc under the supervision of the winemaker and/or his assistant. All fruit is processed and moved about the crush pad, cold-soaking and fermentation room in small batches (one ton units). Whites are pressed in a membrane press and reds in a basket press.
QUALIFICATIONS
The successful applicant will;
Be both knowledgeable and passionate about wine.
Have a growth mindset and open to learn from experience.
Must be a team player, have a strong work ethic.
Students whose primary language is not English must have conversational English.
Have the ability to listen, follow directions and carry out projects to their finish.
Have a valid driver’s license and clean DMV record.
Be capable of working long hours under crush conditions and demands.
Tractor/forklift truck experience is a plus.
Have a growth mindset and open to learn from experience.
Must be a team player, have a strong work ethic.
Students whose primary language is not English must have conversational English.
Have the ability to listen, follow directions and carry out projects to their finish.
Have a valid driver’s license and clean DMV record.
Be capable of working long hours under crush conditions and demands.
Tractor/forklift truck experience is a plus.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Ability to walk distances, including steep hillsides
Be able to lift at least 50 pounds
Must be non-smoker
Be able to lift at least 50 pounds
Must be non-smoker
Stipend is $2200/month. Housing is not provided but assistance is provided for locating housing.
Only two internships are offered; to apply send cover letter and resume to earl@abaclea.com
