Crop Technician (Viticulture)

Course overview

Viticulture or vine growing is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes.

Duties of the viticulturist include monitoring and controlling pests and
diseases, fertilising, irrigation, canopy management, monitoring fruit
development and characteristics, harvest decisions, and vine pruning during the
winter months.

Viticulturists are often actively involved with winemakers, because vineyard
management and the resulting grape characteristics provide the basis from which
winemaking can begin.

The role requires self-motivation and the ability to work both independently
and as a team player to complete tasks safely and efficiently. A lot of time is
spent outdoors in all weathers, so resilience and drive are required for
success.

The course will also incorporate a range of competency certificates, such as
first aid and pesticide application.

Qualifications Awarded

• Apprenticeship Certificate


• Level 3 award in emergency first aid at work


• Level 2 in Maths and English (if applicable)


• PA1 Safe use of pesticides (pre requisite of PA3)


• PA3 Air assisted sprayer
  

Delivery model

10 weekly blocks of teaching (5 blocks each academic year, August-July) split
between the college’s main campus and Rock Lodge Vineyard.

Modules

What apprentices will learn:

• Pest & disease management
• Yield forecasting & management
• Pruning & trellising
• Canopy management
• Vineyard floor management
• Vineyard establishment
• Principles of plant growth and development of plant health
• Harvest planning and management
• Vineyard nutrition application and irrigation tasks if applicable to aid growth of crops
• Promote and maintain health & safety and standard operating procedures
• Vineyard machinery & equipment
• Impact of machinery n soil structure and potential damage
• Maintenance of non-productive areas
• Managing accurate records within the workplace
• Environmental issues/legislation, codes of practice and company policies
• Relationship between environmental conditions (including weather), plant protection methods and crop growth
• The importance of maintaining systems for record keeping and storage within the organisation
• Quality standards