Senior Winemaker – Customer and Commercial Growth - 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.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

You will be an experienced, commercially minded winemaker who combines strong technical capability with outstanding industry relationships, customer-management skills and business development experience.

You will understand that successful contract winemaking depends not only on producing excellent wine, but also on attracting customers, earning their trust, understanding their businesses and identifying opportunities that create value for both the customer and McLaren Vintners.

You will be confident building relationships at all levels of the industry and will have the credibility, initiative and commercial awareness to convert opportunities into sustainable business growth.

• Tertiary qualifications in oenology or a related discipline.


• A minimum of ten years’ winemaking experience.


• A strong and well-established network across the Australian wine industry.


• Demonstrated ability to attract new customers, develop commercial relationships or generate new business.


• A sound understanding of the bulk wine market and its participants.


• Experience leading, managing or supporting a small team.


• Strong customer relationship and portfolio-management skills.


• Technical knowledge of both warm- and cool-climate winemaking.


• Excellent communication, negotiation and presentation skills.


• Strong business planning, organisational and problem-solving abilities.


• The confidence to represent the business with customers, industry participants and other stakeholders.


• A collaborative approach and high level of personal accountability, initiative and work ethic.


• Strong computer literacy, with experience using Vintrace highly regarded.

Previous experience within a contract or custom-crush winemaking facility would be highly regarded but is not essential.

This is a rare opportunity to take on an influential senior role within an established McLaren Vale winemaking business.

• Free day off for your birthday


• Yearly Skin checks


• Yearly uniform allowance

Just to name a few….!

Please submit your application, including a cover letter and current résumé, via email using the 'APPLY FOR JOB' link above.

Applications close 30 September 2026.

181 Douglas Gully Road
McLaren Flat SA 5171
Australia

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