A career path into Australia’s grape and wine sector offers a range of opportunities – it is diverse, evolving, rewarding, exciting and fun.
Introduction to the wine sector
Introduction to the wine sector
Watch this video for an introduction to the wine sector and this website, along with useful insights into education and career pathways.
Hosted and narrated by international award-winning journalist Prue Adams.
Discover Australian wine
Discover Australian wine
Watch this video to learn a bit more about Australia’s wine regions, history and climate.
Viticulture and grapegrowing
Viticulture is the science of growing and cultivating wine grapes and managing vineyards.
There’s a nationwide demand for all levels of winegrape focused professionals - and there are opportunities to progress from vineyard support to vineyard management, machinery operations, and to specialist viticulture roles. There are also options to study while working to gain technical skills and qualifications.
Oenology, wine science and winemaking
Oenology is the science of winemaking. A career pathway in a winery can offer a range of scientific, creative, and operational opportunities, whether you’re new to the sector or have specialised qualifications.
Entry level opportunities are typically available every vintage, and through experience and study you can develop from starting out as a cellar hand to a career in winemaking and/or managing a whole winery.
Wine business
Beyond the sector's more widely known vineyard and winery careers, there is a diverse range of corporate and hospitality opportunities.
Whether you’re looking for your first job or have transferable experience and are wanting to take your existing career in a new direction, there are opportunities available across marketing, sales, business operations, and hospitality services.
"There’s huge amounts of opportunity, especially in the sustainability and climate space to make a massive improvement in agriculture and actually make a difference".Viticulturist
Roles across the wine sector value chain
Careers in the viticulture and wine sector are diverse and the sector offers many opportunities to build an exciting and rewarding career.
Along with working in a vineyard or winery, your skills may be used in research, departments of primary industry, policy, consulting, or as part of co-operative wine businesses and in private wine companies of various sizes and locations.
There are pathways to the sector from physics, science, engineering and trades.
Self-employment is an option as an independent grower, winemaker, consultant, agronomist or starting your own business.
You can follow any pathway to match your own personal skills, values and ambitions – whether you are new to the sector or have transferable skills and experience looking for a career change.
What young people love about working in the sector
We asked young people what they value and love about working in the viticulture and wine sector. This is what they told us.
More than jobs – it’s a lifestyle
Employment opportunities are diverse and can take you to any wine producing region around Australia or overseas.
Support when you are in the sector
The professional development and support when you enter the sector is unlike any other.
Take a moment to explore industry supported programs along your career pathway.
‘Being involved in the process of creating something as timeless and culturally significant as wine can be incredibly rewarding. Seeing your hard work culminate in a finished product that brings joy to others provides a profound sense of accomplishment.’Winemaker
What's it like working in a vineyard?
Watch these videos to learn more about careers in viticulture, produced for National Ag Day celebrations
Why choose a career in viticulture?
Hear from viticulturists around Australia talk about what they love about their jobs.
What is it like working in a vineyard?
Viticulturists share some of their experiences of working in vineyards in Australia.
Did you know?
- Oenology (pronounced ee–no–luh–jee) is the science and study of wine and winemaking. The career title is oenologist. An oenologist must have scientific knowledge of the chemical and biological processes which are used during the winemaking process.
- A vineyard is often characterised by its terroir (pronounced teuh-waa). This is a French term loosely translating as ‘a sense of place’ that refers to the specific geographical and geological characteristics of where the grapes are grown, which may be imparted in the wine.
For any feedback or to report broken links across this site please email research@wineaustralia.com.