vineyard manager
Role lens
Do you have a passion for viticulture and a knack for leadership? As a vineyard manager, you'll be at the heart of wine production, overseeing every stage from vine to harvest. This role combines practical expertise with strategic planning, ensuring the health and productivity of the vineyard.
Vineyard managers are responsible for the overall health and productivity of vineyards, often coordinating with wineries and sometimes handling administrative and marketing aspects. Your days will involve a blend of hands-on work, data analysis, and team leadership. You’ll monitor vine growth, manage irrigation and fertilization, oversee pest and disease control, and coordinate harvesting schedules. The role requires a deep understanding of grape varieties, soil conditions, and weather patterns, as well as the ability to adapt to changing conditions and implement best practices.
- • Planning and implementing vineyard operations, including pruning, training, and canopy management.
- • Monitoring vine health and identifying/addressing issues like pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies.
- • Managing irrigation, fertilization, and soil health to optimize grape quality and yield.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Market-oriented skilled agricultural workers — 27 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Finland and 5 more.
Longest-running shortage: Netherlands, 4 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
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Future Outlook for vineyard manager
The outlook for vineyard manager reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could vineyard manager change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could vineyard manager change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- supervise hygiene procedures in agricultural settings
- monitor grounds maintenance
- manage technical aspects of vineyard production
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- evaluate vineyard problems
- control grape quality
- manage chemical testing procedures
Tasks most exposed to automation
No single task here is highly automatable yet.
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Agriculture
A typical day as a vineyard manager
09 09:00 · Morning evaluate vineyard problems
10 10:30 · Mid-morning manage wine production
12 12:00 · Midday manage technical aspects of vineyard production
14 14:00 · Afternoon control grape quality
15 15:30 · Late afternoon control wine quality
17 17:00 · Wrap-up manage agricultural staff
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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agricultural business management
The business principles behind agricultural production and the marketing of its products.
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viticulture
Understanding of vine growth and principles of viticulture.
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wine related sciences
Sciences such as chemistry, biology and microbiology, as well as laboratory skills, where they concern wine.
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winery production process
Winery production processes and safety requirements. Winemaking principles. Engineering and flow process technology (pumps and hoses).
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e-agriculture
The design and application of innovative ICT solutions in agriculture, horticulture, viniculture, fishery, forestry and livestock management.
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organic farming
Principles, techniques and regulations of organic farming. Organic farming or ecological agriculture is an agricultural production method, which places a strong emphasis on environmental protection and ecological balance.
- environmental legislation in agriculture and forestry
- fertilisation principles
- health and safety regulations
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manage technical aspects of vineyard production
Control the whole production process in teræs of quantity and quality. Decide about new pratices in vineyard and winery by using internal information and consultation processus.
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manage wine production
Manage the wine production and review the production pipeline and volumes.
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control grape quality
Discuss the quality and quantity of the grapes with viticulturists throughout the growing season.
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control wine quality
Taste the wine and strive to improve the quality. Develop new styles of wine. Making sure that quality is maintained during all production stages, including when it is bottled. Records quality checks line with specifications. Assume responsibility for the maintenance of all quality parameters for all wines.
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supervise pest and disease control
Scout for pest damage, order pesticides as needed and within given budget, supervise mixing and application of pesticides, maintain records of pesticide application.
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manage budgets
Plan, monitor, report on the budget and prepare set production budgets.
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manage agricultural staff
Recruit and manage staff. This includes defining the job needs of the organisation, defining the criteria and process for recruitment. Develop the competences of the staff according current and future needs of the company and individuals. Ensure health and safety of the staff, including the implementation of all relevant health and safety procedures and relatations with regular follow-up procedures.
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oversee vineyard floor activities
Oversee the application of herbicides under vineyard trellis and the mowing of the rows.
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manage production enterprise
Organise and instruct staff, plan production strategies and programmes including sales. Carry out input purchase orders, materials, equipment and manage stocks etc. Awareness of demands of the businesses customers and adjustments accordingly to plans and strategies. Estimate resources and control budget of enterprise applying business economics, production development and project management principles.
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supervise hygiene procedures in agricultural settings
Ensure that hygiene procedures in agricultural settings are followed, taking into account the regulations of specific areas of action e.q. livestock, plants, local farm products, etc.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
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Where does vineyard manager fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of education or experience is typically needed to become a vineyard manager?
- While a formal degree in viticulture, enology, or a related agricultural field is beneficial, practical experience in vineyard work is often essential. Many vineyard managers start in entry-level positions and work their way up, gaining knowledge and skills over time. A strong understanding of agricultural practices and a willingness to learn are key.
- Does this role involve a lot of physical labor?
- Yes, vineyard management is a physically demanding role. It involves spending significant time outdoors in various weather conditions and performing tasks such as pruning, planting, and harvesting. While supervisory duties are part of the role, hands-on work is a regular requirement.
- I’m interested in freelancing as a vineyard manager – what should I consider?
- Freelancing as a vineyard manager is increasingly common, particularly for specialized tasks or seasonal support. Building a strong reputation through consistent, high-quality work is crucial. Networking within the wine industry and developing a clear understanding of contracts and liability are also important considerations.
- Vineyard Manager — is there a shortage in Europe?
- Yes. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a shortage was reported in 9 of the 13 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Greece and 5 more. Netherlands has reported one for 4 consecutive years. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Vineyard Manager — what does it pay in the United States?
- $87,980 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $62,740 to $111,460. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.