Consulting Services

Winemaking Leadership

Winery Operations & Production Systems

Harvest Planning and Execution

Winery Assessment

Winemaking Leadership

Providing experienced winemaking guidance for wineries seeking technical leadership with or without a full-time hire.

My approach emphasizes clear fermentation and aging strategy, stylistic intent, and decisions that support both wine quality and the realities of production and budgets.

  • Fermentation strategy and troubleshooting

  • Blending and stylistic direction

  • Laboratory analysis program design (in-house and third-party)

  • Vintage planning and vineyard coordination (estate and sourced fruit)

  • Quality troubleshooting and practical winemaking problem solving

This type of engagement often takes the form of ongoing advisory support throughout the vintage cycle.

Winery Operations and Production Systems

Helping wineries strengthen the systems that support consistent and improving wine quality.

  • SOP development and implementation

  • Sanitation and quality assurance program establishment, refinement, and troubleshooting

  • Bottling and packaging logistics and execution

  • Cellar layout, production sequencing, and operational timetables

  • Staff training (production, front-of-house, admin) and cellar leadership support

These engagements are typically structured as focused projects designed to identify weaknesses; implement durable, scalable, and resilient systems; and leave the winery operating more smoothly and independently.

Harvest Planning and Execution

Harvest (aka “crush”) is the most crucial and operationally complex period of the winemaking year.

I support wineries during harvest by helping establish clear processes and systems, communication, and production discipline so that the team can focus on the wines themselves.

  • Harvest logistics, scheduling, and planning

  • Fermentation monitoring and risk-based decision making

  • Cellar operations planning and coordination, including staffing structure

  • Real-time winemaking and logistics troubleshooting during harvest

This work is usually concentrated in the months leading up to and during harvest, either project-based or broader supervisory basis.

Winery Assessment

Independent operational and winemaking assessment services for investors, owners, or other entities evaluating winery assets.

These activities provide clear, practical insight into the condition of winery operations, the quality and status of wine inventory, and suitability of winery facilities and equipment.

  • Wine inventory evaluation

  • Equipment and infrastructure assessment

  • Operational flow review

  • Risk identification in production processes

  • Advisory support in conjunction with due diligence investigations

These engagements are typically short-term assessments that provide clear, independent insight to support ownership, investment, or strategic decisions.

Typical Situations Where I’m Brought In

  • A winery is preparing for a more complex harvest

  • Production systems are beginning to strain as the winery grows

  • The owner needs experienced winemaking leadership on a consulting basis

  • A winery is preparing for a sale, purchase, or ownership transition

  • Quality issues are appearing during harvest, aging, bottling, or storage

  • A winery is engaging with a custom-crush facility for the first time, or looking to refine their relationship