Distiller (Wine Jobs: Vineyards & Cellars )

  E. & J. Gallo Winery

  Modesto, California

Why E. & J. Gallo Winery?

E. & J. Gallo Winery was founded by two entrepreneurs—Ernest and Julio Gallo with a vision to democratize wine in the United States becoming the largest winery in the world.   This spirit continues today, where Gallo offers opportunities where we value innovation, collaboration, and creative thinking.  

This is a chance for experienced distillers to join a team with fast growing products and many more ideas in the pipeline.  As the makers of New Amsterdam and E&J Brandy, distillers on Gallo’s team participate in making Vodka, Gin, Brandy, Tequila and Liqueurs.  We are always conducting research and looking at unique, out-of-the-box ideas for products at different price points or in different categories.  In this position, distillers will be responsible for the quality of production of specific brands/blends in one of our 7 bottling locations domestically and internationally.  In order to do this, distillers may distill the raw material or blend distilled materials from our suppliers to make some of the best products in the marketplace today.  If you are creative, have a passion for continuous improvement and enjoy new challenges each and every day, you should consider this job!

What You Will Do

Technical/Quality:

• Supports distillation and plant operations staff in delivering the highest quality spirits to the consumer across all brands.
• Manages processing trials inclusive of safely operating our lab distillation column and details the results of the experiments in reports.
• Tastes spirits, conducts evaluations, and makes recommendation of treatments/blending changes to improve spirits quality.
• Supervises the processes and operations involved to deliver spirits from raw material to bottle as assigned (e.g. management of fermentation, distillation, product aging, product blending and product bottling).
• Writes work orders and gives clear directions to Gallo plant operations to receive grapes and produce wine destined for brandy during the grape harvest season. 
• Ensures all spirits blends comply with formulas and TTB regulations and completes tracking paperwork within a timely manner from raw materials to bottle.
• Writes models/works with software that enables more efficient operations and management of our products and processes.
• Contributes to the continuous improvement of all distillation processes and procedures.
• Reviews wine/spirits analysis data and makes necessary quality adjustments.
• Manages spirits quality at a fundamental level.
• Coordinates the shipping of Spirits between Gallo facilities and sourcing bases/flavors from suppliers.
• Responsible for understanding and complying with applicable quality, environmental and safety regulatory considerations.  If accountable for the work of others, responsible for ensuring their understanding and compliance.

Team Work/Collaboration:

• Gives real –time feedback to operations teams during distillation processes including providing suggestions on how to operate the stills more efficiently or to produce product closer to our target.
• Works closely with distillation and cellar personnel to write work orders and plan cellar operations both in Modesto and at our co-manufacturing facilities to enable timely bottling of our products.
• Leads cross-functional teams in the pursuit of creating better products, processes and procedures both within Gallo facilities and with co-manufacturers.
• Functions as the lead point person with a co-manufacturer as required, ensuring quality production for the distillation team.
• Trains and mentors lab technicians, enologist, assistant distillers.

What You Need

• Bachelor of Science degree PLUS 3 years of distillation, enology, winemaking, or chemistry experience reflecting increasing levels of responsibility; OR a General Certificate in Distillation PLUS 3 years of distillation, enology, winemaking, or chemistry experience reflecting increasing levels of responsibility; OR a High school diploma or GED from an accredited institution PLUS 7 years of distillation, enology, winemaking, or chemistry experience reflecting increasing levels of responsibility.
• Required to be available for 24 hour on-call management of distillery operations.
• Required to be 21 years of age or older.
• Required be on site and work extended hours at the wineries throughout harvest.
• A valid driver’s license and successful completion of background check. Required to obtain a California driver’s license or appropriate state driver’s license within 30 days of hire.
• Required to identify variances in spirit color by sight and identify spirit flavors by taste and smell.
• Required to occasionally lift and move full cases of product weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Skilled in the use of MS Word and MS Excel at a basic level.

What Will Set You Apart

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, or Chemical Engineering plus 5 years of distillation, enology, winemaking, or chemistry experience reflecting increasing levels of responsibility.
• Knowledge of spirits, spirits chemistry and spirits types.
• Knowledge of brandy, whiskey, and rum distillate production processes and experience with product blending.
• Skilled in use of ChemCad or Aspen for process/distillation modeling
• Knowledge and understanding of PID control loops.

How To Apply

https://careers.gallo.com/job/Modesto-Distiller-CA-95354/394684600/

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