Vintage Opportunities 2027

Vintage Opportunities 2027

Fixed-Term | Winery

Company: Poulter Family HB Winery Limited

Location: Hawke’s Bay

Start Date: Early February 2027.

Vintage Period: Approximately Mid-End February to Mid-May 2027, depending on seasonal conditions and fruit intake.

Join us for Vintage 2027, our first vintage at the newly acquired 10,000T Selaks Winery. Based in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.

You will work with a diverse portfolio of wine styles that include Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay and Gimblett Gravels reds, Sauvignon Blanc from Hawke’s Bay and Martinborough, and Central Otago Pinot Noir.

We are recruiting for three vintage positions:

1. Vintage Cellar Hand
2. Vintage Laboratory Technician
3. Grape Truck Driver (Class 5)

Applicants may indicate their preferred pathway in their application.

About Us

Poulter Family HB Winery is part of the Poulter Group, a proudly 100% family‑owned New Zealand business. From orchard to vineyard, winery to bottling line, we grow, harvest, craft, bottle, and deliver quality wine through a vertically integrated, resilient, and future‑focused operation. As ONE team, we are building a strong, profitable, and sustainable wine and produce business for the next generation.

Hours of Work

Vintage is a dynamic and demanding period, and flexibility is essential.

• During harvest, employees may be rostered Monday to Sunday.
• Team members will typically work up to six days per week.
• Shifts may be up to 12 hours per day, subject to appropriate rest breaks, health and safety requirements, and applicable legislation.

Vintage Cellar Hand

About the Role

We are seeking a motivated, hands-on, and enthusiastic Cellar Hand Intern to join our winery team. Dependable, focused, and hard-working people will do well in this role. You’ll play an important role in supporting daily cellar operations, learning industry best practices, and contributing to the safe and efficient production of premium wines. Full training will be provided; however, you must be physically fit, reliable, and willing to learn.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Support harvest operations, including fruit receival, pressing, fermentation management, juice and wine handling.
• Clean, sanitise, and maintain winery equipment, tanks, and work areas to ensure high standards of hygiene and quality.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Studying towards, or recently completed, a qualification in Viticulture, Oenology, Wine Science, Food Technology, or a related field. Preferred, not essential.
• Previous experience in a winery, cellar, laboratory, agricultural, horticultural, manufacturing, or food production environment would be advantageous.

Personal Attributes

You will bring:

• Good communication and teamwork skills.
• A practical, hands-on approach to work.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.

Vintage Laboratory Technician

About the Role

We are seeking a motivated, detail-oriented, and enthusiastic Vintage Laboratory Technician Intern to join our winery team. Working at the heart of the harvest operation, you’ll assist with analysing grape juice and wine samples, providing the information needed to support day-to-day winemaking decisions. This is an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience in a commercial winery laboratory and develop your technical knowledge in one of New Zealand’s most exciting wine regions.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Perform accurate and timely routine chemical analysis of grape juice and wine throughout the harvest period.
• Maintain accurate laboratory records and documentation, ensuring laboratory results are accurately recorded, verified, and communicated to the winemaking team.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Studying towards, or recently completed, a qualification in Viticulture, Oenology, Wine Science, Food Technology, or a related field. Preferred, not essential.
• Previous laboratory experience or placement is preferred; experience working 1–2 harvests in a laboratory setting would be advantageous.

Personal Attributes

You will bring:

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Good organisation, communication, and time-management skills.
• Ability to follow laboratory procedures and instructions.

Grape Truck Driver (Class 5)

We are also seeking 3 Grape Truck Drivers (Class 5) for the vintage period. Operating a truck and trailer combination to transport grapes between vineyards and the winery. If you know someone who may be interested or yourself, please send through a Resume/CV to: cam@sku.co.nz

How to apply

If either of these internship opportunities sounds like the right fit for you and you are excited about the opportunity to join the Poulter Family HB Winery team, we would love to hear from you.

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in New Zealand. As part of your application, please provide evidence of your work eligibility, such as a copy of your New Zealand passport, citizenship certificate, or valid work visa.

Please click the “Apply” button and follow the prompts to submit your application.

As part of your application, please indicate your preferred internship pathway:

• Cellar Hand Intern
• Vintage Laboratory Technician Intern

If you would like to learn more about the roles or what it is like to be part of our team, please get in touch at hayden@poulterwines.co.nz.