Harvest Cellar Intern

About Realm Cellars

Realm Cellars is one of Napa Valley’s most electrifying wine brands with estate vineyards in Stags Leap District, Pritchard Hill and Coombsville. In 2012, owner Scott Becker set out to revive a nearly bankrupt brand, bringing together a team that would help reshape its future. Since then, Realm has been transformed into one of the most collected wineries in Napa Valley, with a vineyard portfolio that today exemplifies the greatness and diversity of Napa Valley. Formerly the Hartwell Estate, Realm acquired the property in 2015 and began initial construction and development phases of an endeavor that will take decades to realize. In 2022, Realm acquired Nine Suns and Houyi Vineyard in Napa Valley’s famed area, Pritchard Hill. Realm is fueled by a clear vision for the brand, innovative and creative strategic thinking and an uncompromising commitment to quality and excellence. Realm’s portfolio of wines includes both single vineyard wines and proprietary blends, all unified by freshness, precision, focus and structure. In addition to its estate vineyard sites, Realm partners with Napa Valley’s most prestigious and iconic wine growers and vineyard sites, including Beckstoffer Dr. Crane and To Kalon—producing some of the finest and sought-after wines in Napa Valley.

Summary

The Realm Harvest Cellar Intern assists the cellar team with all day-to-day harvest operations, including receiving grapes and assisting on the crush pad, general cleaning and sanitation of winery equipment and facility, drain and press, and other winery related tasks. We are a team of organized, positive, hard-working individuals who focus on achieving quality at the highest level while being efficient in the process and thorough in our winemaking. Ideal candidates have prior harvest/cellar experience.

Key Information

• Realm has three winemaking facilities in Napa Valley: Realm Moonracer Estate (Napa), Realm Houyi Estate (St. Helena), and Realm North (Calistoga). Interns will be assigned to a specific facility for harvest and must have reliable transportation to and from their assigned facility.
• Internship start date is August 13, 2025 with an estimated end date of November 14, 2025 which may be subject to change in accordance with company needs.
• $300 monthly taxable housing allowance.

Facility Descriptions

Realm North (Map)
Realm North is located in Calistoga in the northern part of Napa Valley. The production facility focuses on The Bard and Farella. The Bard is Realm’s Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon produced from a blend of grapes sourced from Realm’s Estate vineyards and grower vineyards throughout Napa Valley. The Farella estate fruit contributes to our estate wine portfolio and is in the southeast of Napa Valley. Realm North is our newest production facility. The space is compact and functional. During harvest it can be quite tight with the processing line. We are looking for people who are nimble, creative problem-solvers. It can be quite cold or quite warm in Calistoga, so flexibility and adaptability are also important.

Houyi Estate (Map)
Houyi Estate is Realm’s estate vineyard on Pritchard Hill. Located on the eastern side of Napa Valley, at an elevation of nearly 1300 feet. The facility sits in the middle of the vineyard and focuses on the production of our Houyi Cabernet Sauvignon. Houyi’s cellar and caves have state of the art equipment to produce some of our most sought-after wines. Realm Houyi is a showplace and we are often hosting guests. Those who work here need to have a very high level of attention to detail. We need to work in a very clean manner. We have a very specific way of working at Realm Houyi so listening skills are important.

Moonracer Estate (Map)
Located on Wappo Hill, our Moonracer Estate is located near the base of the Vaca Range in the Stags Leap District AVA. This estate was the very first purchased by Realm Cellars in 2015. It is a dynamic estate that focuses on our estate Moonracer wines along with fruit sources from other highly acclaimed vineyards. This is our only estate that produces a white wine. Moonracer is a constantly evolving estate that requires creative thinking and the ability and willingness to adapt. The work here can be spread out, so people working here need to be agile. We also require strong communication here given the sometimes disparate locations of the work on property. Bi-lingual English and Spanish speakers are highly preferred.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist with setting up crush equipment, sanitation of the line, as well as receival and processing grapes.
• Performing additions including yeast, nutrient, and general wine additives.
• Assist in preparing the facility for harvest including setting up, cleaning and sanitation of tanks, pumps, hoses, etc.
• Punch downs and pump overs, drains, and dig outs
• Assist in pressing both red and whites – includes press loading, unloading, press cleaning.
• Barrel work that includes prepping, filling, topping, racking, and cleaning.
• Perform general housekeeping and cleaning of the facility (e.g., sweeping, scooping up debris, using water hoses/pressure washers for wash-down of grounds or buildings, etc.) as well as operating cleaning equipment (e.g., power washer, steamer, ozone)
• Other cellar related duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older upon starting employment
• Must be available to work full time hours plus overtime
• 1-2 years of cellar experience preferred, or 2+ years’ experience doing manual labor involving consistent heavy lifting. Experience in production or manufacturing environment is ideal
• Must have the ability to read, write, speak, and understand instructions in English (bi-lingual in English and Spanish a plus)
• Ability to multitask and work independently and with a team in a fast-paced environment while remaining focused on accuracy and timeliness
• Must be flexible with a highly variable shift schedule (i.e., varying start and end times based on production schedule)
• Operation of basic hand tools
• Forklift skills a plus
• Must have an excellent safety, work performance, and attendance record
• Prioritize while able to adapt to changing priorities
• Demonstrate reliability and punctuality, work effectively in team/crew environment, adherence to all safety regulations and operating procedures
• Reliable transportation

Physical Requirements

• Full body mobility: Ability to stand, walk, sit, use hand tools, reach and raise hands above the head, climb stairs, kneel or crouch, talk, hear, and accurately taste and smell
• Able to lift up to 60 lbs.
• Hearing ability adequate to effectively communicate with co-workers and customers
• Ability to work in a dynamic range of temperatures and weather conditions
• Able to work in and outdoors
• Can sustain extended periods of standing or walking on concrete floors
• Able to work irregular and variable hours and days
• Able to safely and effectively wear all required personal protective equipment
• Capable of safely and effectively operating a forklift. Forklift certified preferred

Work Environment. This job primarily operates in a production facility with occasional exposure to dust, gas, and/or fumes, hazardous material, and high noise levels. Must be able to work in a variety of temperature, humidity levels, and weather conditions.

How to Apply: If this internship aligns with what you are looking for and you meet the position requirements, we'd like to hear from you. Please include your current resume. No in-person visits, please.