1mo ago , from Wine Network Consulting Pty LtdHambledon Wine Estate is the birthplace of English wine, established in **** and remains dedicated to producing premium sparkling wine.
Now owned by Berry Bros.
& Rudd, the UK's oldest fine wine and spirits merchant, and Symington Family Estates, the world's leading producer of premium port.
This shared history, expertise and commitment to the industry is guiding the next chapter of Hambledon's evolution and transformative growth.The estate is in the village of Hambledon in Hampshire, with a 220-acre vineyard and 500-tonne winery, producing traditional-method sparkling wines, across 4 tiers.
Expansion and improvement plans are well underway with recent capital investment across the wine estate.This is a rare chance to join pioneers of wine excellence with a vision to create the finest English sparkling wine, earning a place alongside the world's most prestigious houses.
You will have the prospect to build a legacy as a benchmark producer and your career working alongside industry leaders.Reporting to the Managing Director, the Head Winemaker will drive wine style and quality, shaping the Hambledon portfolio through technical leadership and brand advocacy.
Part of the senior management team, this role will be responsible for managing the winery and ensuring excellence across the wine production pipeline.
Providing hands‐on leadership to the winemaking and laboratory teams, you will champion a proactive and innovative culture for growth and development.KEY RESPONSIBILITIESWinery & Wine Production Management:Manage the winery and production,



overseeing all winemaking activitiesLead, train and mentor the winemaking and laboratory teams, building a high-performance culture and technical capabilitySet winemaking styles, technical standards, specifications and production processesDrive wine quality, maintaining rigorous assurance processes, controls, standards and benchmarksEnsure wines meet regulatory compliance and standards, including HACCP and PDOWork closely with the Head of Wine Operations to align production plans with sales forecasts and inventory strategyManage winery budgets, delivering forecasts and reportsMaintain accurate and up to date winemaking and production systems and recordsOperate a safe work environment, ensuring processes are followed and regulatory compliance is metOversee contract winemaking projects, ensuring clients wines meet agreed specifications and quality standardsStrategic Management & Collaboration:Work collaboratively with the wine leadership team,



ensuring excellence and consistency across the winemaking pipelineWork closely with the Vineyard Manager on harvest decisions and grape specificationsPartner with the Head of Wine Operations to ensure seamless executionCollaborate with commercial and marketing teams to align product with brand strategy and customer expectationsContribute to capital investment decisions and projects to improve winery efficiency, operations and qualityRepresent Hambledon as a brand advocate among trade, media, partners and industryLead new product development and refine wine styles, ensuring Hambledon remains at the forefront of English sparkling innovationIntroduce and embed improvements in efficiency, quality and sustainabilityChampion sustainable winemaking practices and resource efficiency across the winery, assessing winemaking inputs and processesKEY REQUIREMENTSTertiary qualification in Oenology or equivalentRelevant winemaking experience within a commercial wineryProven track record of producing high-quality sparkling wines, with strong technical knowledge and experience of traditional method productionWell-developed wine sensory and quality assessment skills, with training in wine assessment, sensory analysis, wine show judging, or similar an advantageCommercial awareness alongside technical excellenceHands‐on leadership style and experience developing technical teamsStrong collaboration and communication skills across vineyard, operations, and commercial teamsHigh standards and attention to detailCurious, innovative and improvement-orientedThis role is open to international applicants with visa sponsorship available.
If you have UK citizenship, permanent work rights, or are eligible for a UK Ancestry Visa, this will be an advantage to your application.
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📌 Head Winemaker (Melbourne)
🏢 Wine Network Consulting
📍 Melbourne