Occupation intelligence

Wine Fermenter

Role lens

Wine fermenters tend tanks to ferment crushed fruit or must into wines. They dump specified amounts of crushed fruits into wine tanks and mix them with syrup, chemicals or yeast. They prevent the growing of bacteria during fermentation.

Labour market
Shortage in Italy and 9 more countries
ELA/EURES 2025
Industry
Agriculture
Education
Upper secondary education
69%
Resilience Score · 2026 (Higher is better)
Upper secondary education 16% AI exposure · 2026
Labour market

Where this occupation is in demand

Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.

Figures cover Stationary plant and machine operators — 259 jobs including this one.

12 of 15 in shortage202512 of 27 growing1.3Mopenings to 2035

In shortage: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Finland and 8 more.

Longest-running shortage: Italy, 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.

What these words mean

The four things this section reports

Reported demand
Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
Where it is heading
Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
Openings
Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
Typical pay
What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.

A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.

Which way the market leans for you

In your favour
More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
Balanced
Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
Competitive
More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
Mixed evidence
Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.

Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.

How this job compares with other jobs in the same country

Strong
Among the strongest in that country
Good
Stronger than most jobs in that country
Mixed
About typical for that country
Weak
Weaker than most jobs in that country

This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.

Where these come from

Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.

None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.

Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta, United Kingdom)
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading
Reported demand Typical pay Where it is heading
United States Not reported $51,610 2025-05 −4.3% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034
Ireland Not reported — +42.9% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 *
Australia Assessed as balanced Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * — —
Malta Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2024 * — —
United Kingdom Not reported £27,267 2025-provisional —

* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)

Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Open Government Licence v3.0

Do you guide students, clients or employees? Use this occupation data in your organisation.

NexFuture™

Future Outlook for wine fermenter

The outlook for wine fermenter 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.

Play the future
How could wine fermenter change as AI adoption grows?

Human judgement, trust, and context remain strong protectors for this role.

Significant task-level transformation is estimated in 18 years (around 2044) under the selected Expected Pace scenario.
~70%
Resilience
Automation Risk
EXP~20%
Human advantage
MOAT~75%

Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.

2026
2036
2049
AI Adoption Speed:

Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.

How AI may change this role

Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.

69% Human-owned

What still depends on people

  • apply HACCP
  • follow hygienic procedures during food processing
  • apply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beverages
The Human Edge To stay ahead in this role, focus on fermentation processes of beverages and variety of grapes. These human-centric skills are the hardest for AI to replicate in the next 20 years.
12% Assist

Where AI may become a co-pilot

  • monitor the process of wine production
  • monitor fermentation
  • ensure sanitation
16% Automate

Tasks most exposed to automation

No single task here is highly automatable yet.

Detailed Analysis

Vital Signs & AI Vectors

AI Exposure Vectors

0-100%
Robotic & Physical Automation 12%

Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement

AI / Machine Learning 6%

Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks

Generative AI 1%

Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools

Cognitive Software 0%

Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation

Technical Details
Methodology: NexFuture v3.0 Sources: O*NET® 30.3, ESCO v1.2.1 Updated: Oct 2026

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.

Day in the life

What people in this role usually do

Agriculture

Day in the life

A typical day as a wine fermenter

09
09:00 · Morning
age alcoholic beverages in vats
Follow adequate procedures to place certain alcoholic beverages (e.g. wine, spirits, vermouth) in vats and age them for the required period. Use techniques to give them special characteristics.
10
10:30 · Mid-morning
apply GMP
Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
12
12:00 · Midday
apply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beverages
Apply and follow national, international, and internal requirements quoted in standards, regulations and other specifications related with manufacturing of food and beverages.
14
14:00 · Afternoon
monitor fermentation
Supervise and control fermentation. Monitor the settling of juice and the fermentation of raw material. Control the progress of the fermentation process to meet specifications. Measure, test and interpret fermentation process and quality data according to specification.
15
15:30 · Late afternoon
monitor temperature in manufacturing process of food and beverages
Monitor and control required temperatures in the different phases of production until the product reaches suitable properties according to specifications.
17
17:00 · Wrap-up
monitor the process of wine production
Oversee wine production to take decisions, in order to achieve the desired output.

Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.

Skills & knowledge

What you need to do this work

The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.

Essential skills
operating food processing machinery
  • tend wine manufacturing machines

    Tend machinery, appliances, and special equipment designed for the production and the manufacturing of wine. Make maintenance and implement preventive actions to the machinery in order to ensure operability.

  • rack wines

    Rack wines by siphoning the wine off of sediments that settle out to the bottom of vessels such as carboy. Operate machinery needed to effectuate the process of racking.

monitoring operational activities
  • monitor the process of wine production

    Oversee wine production to take decisions, in order to achieve the desired output.

  • monitor fermentation

    Supervise and control fermentation. Monitor the settling of juice and the fermentation of raw material. Control the progress of the fermentation process to meet specifications. Measure, test and interpret fermentation process and quality data according to specification.

fabricating food and related products
  • prepare containers for beverage fermentation

    Prepare containers for beverage fermentation according to the type of beverage to be produced. This includes the qualities that the different kinds of containers can give to the final product.

  • age alcoholic beverages in vats

    Follow adequate procedures to place certain alcoholic beverages (e.g. wine, spirits, vermouth) in vats and age them for the required period. Use techniques to give them special characteristics.

complying with health and safety procedures
  • apply HACCP

    Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).

  • follow hygienic procedures during food processing

    Ensure a clean working space according to hygienic standards in the food processing industry.

ensuring compliance with legislation
  • apply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beverages

    Apply and follow national, international, and internal requirements quoted in standards, regulations and other specifications related with manufacturing of food and beverages.

  • apply GMP

    Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

cleaning interior and exterior of buildings
  • ensure sanitation

    Keep workspaces and equipment free from dirt, infection, and disease by removing waste, trash and providing for appropriate cleaning.

cleaning tools, equipment, workpieces and vehicles
  • sterilise fermentation tanks

    Sterilise workspaces and equipment using hoses, scrapers, brushes, or chemical solutions.

preparing food and drinks
  • monitor temperature in manufacturing process of food and beverages

    Monitor and control required temperatures in the different phases of production until the product reaches suitable properties according to specifications.

Knowledge areas & Software & Technologies
Knowledge areas
  • fermentation processes of beverages

    Fermentation processes related to the conversion of sugar to alcohol, gases and acids.

  • variety of grapes

    Varieties of grapes and the types of wine that can be produced with them. Specifications during fermentation and the treatment of the juice during the process.

  • wine fermentation process

    Process of fermentation of wine, which involves the different steps to be followed, the time lapses in the process and the parameters of the product.

  • vinegar fermentation process

    The two-step process in which the fermentation of the vinegar takes place. A key procedure for fruit vinegars production requires the conversion into ethanol of fermentable sugars by yeasts and, in a second stage, the ethanol oxidation by bacteria.

Cross-sector skills
  • biotechnology
Key traits you need
Cooperation Dependability Self-Control Stress Tolerance Integrity Concern for Others Independence Social Orientation Adaptability/Flexibility Attention to Detail Initiative Leadership Achievement/Effort Persistence Analytical Thinking Innovation
Key rewards you can expect
AchievementWorking Condit…RecognitionRelationshipsSupportIndependence
How to qualify

Path to become a wine fermenter

What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.

Typical education level

Upper secondary education

Where to study

30 programmes in 16 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 63 short courses that build single skills.

A few examples, taught in the language of this page:

Vocational New Zealand Certificate in Cellar Operations (Level 3)

Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) · New Zealand

Degree 바이오발효융합학과

Bio-Fermentation Convergence

South Korea

Vocational Şarap Üretim Teknolojisi

Wine Production Technology

Türkiye

Degree Bachelor of Viticulture and Wine Science

Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) · New Zealand

Degree Master of Wine Science MWineSci

University of Auckland · New Zealand

Sources
  1. 1. Source: Study with New Zealand (studywithnewzealand.govt.nz), Education New Zealand. Copyright in the material is owned by Education New Zealand (All content (c) Education New Zealand). Listings are provided by the education providers, are for information and promotional purposes only, and are not endorsed by Education New Zealand; each provider is responsible for its own content.
  2. 2. Source: Study in Korea, National Institute for International Education (NIIED) (studyinkorea.go.kr).
  3. 3. Source: YÖK Atlas, Council of Higher Education (yokatlas.yok.gov.tr).
  4. 4. Source: Malta Qualifications Registry, Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (qualifications.mfhea.gov.mt).
Career progression

Growth Pathways & Similar Roles

Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.

Career landscape

Where does wine fermenter fit?

This role
wine fermenter This role

Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.

For organisations

The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What kind of environment can I expect to work in as a wine fermenter?
You'll primarily work in winery environments, often in production areas around large fermentation tanks. Expect a working environment that can be physically demanding and may involve exposure to varying temperatures and potentially loud noises.
Do I need a science background to become a wine fermenter?
While a strong understanding of basic science principles is helpful, it’s not always a strict requirement. Many wine fermenters learn on the job through training and experience. A keen interest in the winemaking process and a willingness to learn are essential.
What skills are important for success in this role?
Attention to detail, the ability to follow precise instructions, and a commitment to maintaining hygiene and sanitation standards are all crucial. Physical stamina and the ability to work effectively as part of a team are also beneficial.
How much does Wine Fermenter pay in the United States?
$49,500 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $32,000 to $108,900. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.

Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data