Become a Biodynamic Winemaker
Harvest Interns
At Troon Vineyard, we believe that wine should be grown in the vineyard. We believe that intention is vitally important, and that the wines be an honest and transparent expression of the living soils from which they originated.
Each fall, Troon hires two interns to help with the vintage. Our vineyard, winery and farm are located in the beautiful Applegate Valley of Southern Oregon. We are certified Biodynamic and Organic, and are the second in the world (and the first in Oregon) to be Regenerative Organic certified (ROC Gold). We are committed to natural, minimal-intervention winemaking practices: utilizing all native yeasts / spontaneous fermentations, no sugar or acid corrections of any kind, and no new oak. We grow some unique and interesting varieties such as tannat, grenache, mourvèdre, cinsault, carignan, syrah, negrette (!), vermentino, marsanne, roussanne, grenache blanc and viognier, as well as others. We make red, white, rosé, orange/amber, petillant naturel sparkling wines and fortified wines. Wine and science nerds - we are your people.
Our harvest internships typically start the last week of August or first week of September and generally run through mid-November. Interns are involved in all tasks, from late season vineyard work and sampling through harvest, grape receival, winery sanitation, pressing, fermentation management, punch downs, barreling down and topping up barrels. Interns will also get to assist in the final post-harvest Biodynamic preparations of the year, as well as the building and initial monitoring of the compost piles in coordination with our farm crew.
Prior harvest experience is a big plus - almost a requirement, but above all we are looking for a passion for making wines naturally and with intention. Candidates need to be capable of working long hours, including overtime, evenings and weekends. This will involve a fair amount of time spent outdoors in all weather conditions.
We are able to provide on-site housing, which also has a kitchen for food prep, but we do not provide most meals. Non-US citizens must obtain all necessary documentation and work visas; we can direct you to some agencies we’ve worked with in the past (MAST, CAEP, WFE), and can assist in this process.
Thank you for your interest in working with Troon Vineyard!
"Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives."
To apply: Please submit your cover letter and resume to: Micah@troonvineyard.com
Be a Biodynamic Farmer
Farm Interns
Our ideal candidate is an early-career farmer who is passionate about learning Biodynamic and regenerative farming principles and gaining foundational skills through practice. Your main focus will be to assist the garden manager in the dynamic day-to-day management of two acres of vegetable and herb gardens, permaculture-style food forest, greenhouse/nursery, and our post-harvest processing station. Additionally, you will work with the livestock, apple orchard, compost, native habitat and education garden, amongst many other seasonal tasks.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Manage crops from seed saving and sowing, to bed prep, transplanting, trellising, irrigation, weeding, fertilization, pruning, thinning, dead-heading, pest control, harvest and processing/packing.
Help manage our on-site farm stand by stocking fresh produce and products.
Brew and apply compost teas, herbal extracts, fertilizers, and Biodynamic preparations.
Assist with weekly livestock grazing rotations by moving portable electric fencing.
Build and turn large-scale, windrow-style compost piles.
Orchard work, including pruning, training, mulching, weeding, pest and disease control, and harvest.
Minimum Qualifications:
Prior experience working in a physically demanding job.
Prior farming experience with farming vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruit trees, compost, and/or livestock (preferred).
Must be able to lift 50 lbs. and traverse uneven terrain in adverse weather.
Familiar with Google Workspace (e.g. Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets).
Skills & Attributes:
Demonstrate a willingness to learn, as well as receive direction and feedback.
Independently motivated, with a strong work ethic.
Efficient and detail-oriented.
Able to work in a physically demanding environment, modeling endurance and a positive, upbeat attitude.
Good communication skills.
Able to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
Schedule:
Our internships will last from March-September, with exact start and end dates TBD. Your schedule will be five days on, two days off, with the days of the week to be determined.
To apply: Please submit your cover letter and resume to Garett@troonvineyard.com.
Wholistic Biodynamic Wine Sales
Join the Troon Hospitality Team
Into organics? Love wine? Join the team at Troon Vineyard, one of only thirteen certified Biodynamic® wineries in Oregon. We have achieved international recognition for our wines from leading wine publications in England and Italy and it is our goal to place the wines of the Applegate Valley among the world’s best. The American wine press has been equally enthusiastic, awarding Troon Vineyard more than sixty ratings of ninety or more points in just the last two years.
Working at Troon Vineyard is a career-building opportunity that will offer you the ability to establish yourself as a wine hospitality professional. Team members are actively engaged in all vineyard and winery activities and we sponsor and require our full-time staff members to become certified wine educators by the W.S.E.T.
As you would expect from a Biodynamic® winery, our working environment is holistic and supportive. Our goal is to establish all of our team members as professionals. We believe that the time everyone spends at Troon should not only build our business but build lifelong professional career opportunities for each team member. On top of that, working at Troon is fun!
We have several positions open for immediate employment both at the winery in the Applegate Valley and our Biodynamic Wine Bar in McMinnville:
Full-Time: We are seeking staff members that aspire to become hospitality professionals. People looking for a career, not a job. These are not entry-level positions, so do not apply if you do not have at least two years of experience in retail customer hospitality. Candidates with extensive experience in winery tasting rooms or in restaurant fine dining and hotels with full-bar and food service will receive priority consideration. As we will be making a substantial investment in training, only the most qualified candidates will be considered. Besides the competitive hourly pay rate there are substantial commission and bonus opportunities. Health benefits are also available after the required waiting period.
Part-Time: Do you love wine and agriculture and want to discover if the wine world is right for you? We are seeking candidates with more enthusiasm and energy than experience. This is your opportunity to get your foot in the door for a career in wine and hospitality. Discover the exciting world of fine wine sales with us. Our staff works with you to educate you on wine and all things Troon. Hours for these part-time positions will be on weekends.
Essential Responsibilities:
Hosting tastings with the highest level of customer service while educating our members and guests on our wines and our biodynamic journey
Initiating sales and sign-ups of club memberships.
Customizing each experience so it is unique and tailored to the guest.
Conducting outreach to build strong referral relationships with hospitality partners
Processing orders with strict attention to detail.
Opening and closing procedures for our sales systems.
Housekeeping efforts including, but not limited to, inventory, stocking, cleaning, packing, and organizing.
Ability and drive to take on new tasks and duties as they are presented
Experience and Expectations:
Weekend availability – Saturdays and Sundays are a must.
Ability to foster a warm and welcoming environment
Polished presentation and phone skills
A passion for wine, hospitality, and strong customer service skills
Be over 21 years of age
OLCC permit or the ability to acquire one
Food Handler’s permit or the ability to acquire one
Computer literate in Google Docs, Google Sheets and ability to navigate a Point of Sale system
Ability to lift 45lbs and stand for long periods of time
Reliable transportation
Please submit your resume to meg@troonvineyard.com for consideration.