Do you want to start a career? An expert in wine science, particularly the chemistry and biology involved in producing quality wine, is an enologist. Based on elements such as winery size, the kind of wines produced, and the specific demands of each winery, their duties vary from one winery to the next.
Read: What Does A Food Scientist Salary Look Like?
Duties of an Enologist
An enologist’s responsibilities include the following:
- When bottling wine, keep an eye on it to ensure that adequate sanitation is upheld and that the wine temperature is accurate after bottling.
- During the harvest, keep an eye on the sugar and acid levels to determine when to pluck the grapes.
- Gather and evaluate samples from wine barrels and tanks to do various analyses and lab tests; for this, the lab equipment needs to be in excellent condition.
- Train both new workers and current personnel to do various analyses to assess the caliber of wine produced.
Job Description
A person who has received training in all stages of winemaking, from grape cultivation to harvest and production, is known as an enologist. Since enology is a subfield of viticulture, an enologist is most likely to work for a winery or other wine-related establishment.
Enologists must have a variety of educational backgrounds, although the majority have a college education and an undergraduate degree. Even today, certain colleges and universities offer enology degrees that equip students with all the knowledge and abilities they need to succeed in the profession. Others in the subject of enology might have advanced degrees in fields like botany or ecology.
The candidate needs to study chemistry, biology, and other sciences in order to succeed as an enologist because they will enable him to comprehend the chemical composition of particular grapes. A keen palate and a love of wine are other advantages because an enologist will be actively involved in almost every stage of the winemaking process. Some enologists will focus solely on one aspect of the winemaking process rather than working on the complete process from beginning to end, and the specific obligations of this profession can vary.
An enologist will probably receive training in understanding soil composition and other planting-related concerns so they can decide on the optimal locations for vineyard plants. Since many grape vines don’t produce usable fruit in the first few years after planting, the enologist will watch the growth of the plants and make adjustments as necessary.
This process may take several years of observation and correction. Enologists will keep an eye on the grapes’ sweetness, bitterness, tone, and texture as soon as the plants start to produce fruit. This will assist winemakers in deciding which grapes to use to produce a certain style of wine.
Depending on the magnitude of the winemaking business, an enologist may have a particular job description that entails experimenting with new grape varieties, new planting methods, diverse soils, and chemicals, as well as other trials that can generate wines with different characteristics.
Enologists may be tasked by a winemaker to identify the ideal conditions for producing a particular type of wine that the vineyard hasn’t before produced. To understand which conditions will be best for plants to produce the desired results, enologists will need to have a good foundation in both science and winemaking. Such an endeavor can require a lot of experimentation and monitoring.
Job Scheduling
Typically, an enologist works for a winery. This implies that although you might work out of a typical office, you might also visit the production area, the lab, or the vineyards. Constantly moving from one area of the winery to another and keeping an eye on every step of the winemaking process are essential components of this type of employment.
When managing many vineyards or giving pieces of training or workshops on wine production to other professionals, you could occasionally be required to travel. Enologists typically work standard business hours, although, during the busiest harvest or production season, there may be periods of stress and overtime.
The Job’s Growth
Enologists will be in greater demand during the coming five years, largely because a sizable section of the current workforce is approaching retirement age. There will be a sizable number of jobs for recent enology graduates as a result. Enologists will have secure employment as long as wineries are able to do well economically in the nation.
By opening their own wineries, enologists can further their careers in the industry. This will result in better financial prospects, particularly if one has extensive training and experience in the production of a particular type of high-quality wine.
Common Employers
Enologists work at wineries, which can be small or huge businesses, or in vineyards. The majority of enologists who work in the United States find rewarding jobs in California’s wine-growing regions.
The Steps to becoming an Enologist
A bachelor’s degree in science with a concentration in enology, at the very least, is required to succeed as an enologist. You must have taken certain relevant high school courses, such as those in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics, in order to be considered a qualified applicant for an enology degree.
This significantly raises your chances of getting into the college or institution. The number of degree programs teaching enology has decreased significantly over the past few years, but you could still be able to enter the industry with a degree in a relevant topic.
Consider looking into degree programs in disciplines including agricultural and soil science, chemistry, and biology. You need to develop a true enthusiasm for everything wine-related if you want to be successful in terms of pure competence.
Enologist Pay Rate
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average salary for this job is $72,030 while the average wage per hour is $35.
How does pay for Enologists compare to other professions?
Enologists can earn an average yearly salary of $72,030, or $35 per hour, according to the most recent data on employment in the country. While only commencing out or depending on the state you live in, they may make as little as $49,140, or $24 per hour.
Comparing the rise of Enologists to that of other professions, how?
For a combination of 16,000 individuals working in the field nationwide by 2024, 600 positions will change. The career will increase at an above-average rate nationally thanks to this 3.9% shift in employment during the following ten years.
