Essential Winery Skills Bootcamp

Do you want to learn more about Winemaking?

This course is suitable for those currently working in or seeking employment at a winery.

This course has all the necessary elements required to be able to work in a winery combining an introduction to wine chemistry, technical knowledge needed to work in a winery with practical skills needed to undertake winery operations throughout the season. It enables students to gain a good level of knowledge and understanding of winery tasks and activities over a short, intense, period.

The Introduction to Wine Chemistry will give students an overview of the key principles needed to understand the chemistry involved in winemaking.

The Principles of Winemaking will give students essential knowledge of wine production and working as a cellar hand in a winery. Each day, winemaking theory is introduced in the morning classroom session, then put into practice in the afternoon in the winery. Please note: the course focuses on cool climate grape growing. 

The Lantra Counterbalance Forklift driving course will equip students with essential practical skills to undertake moving stock and machinery around the cellar or warehouse.

The Emergency First Aid at Work and Dynamic Risk Assessment courses provide Health and Safety knowledge and skills needed for Cellar Hands or Winery Operatives to work safely in a winery environment.

In addition to seeing the working winery at Plumpton College, students will have the opportunity to visit another commercial winery located in Sussex to see the different approaches to managing a wine business.

Introduction to Wine Chemistry module

• Understand the basic chemical components in wine and how they affect taste and quality
• Chemistry of fermentation
• Acids in wine and their importance 
• Flavour and aroma compounds in wine

Principles of Winemaking module

• Harvest preparation
• Grape processing
• Must amelioration
• Alcoholic fermentation
• Red wine production
• Wine clarification
• Wine stability and packaging
• Sparkling wine production

Lantra Counterbalance Forklift module

• Health & Safety at Work Act - Preventing accidents
• PUWER Tractor controls
• Daily vehicle checks
• Driving forwards & in reverse
• Legislation
• Personal safety
• Operator responsibilities
• Emergency procedures
• LANTRA Theory & Practical tests

Emergency First Aid at Work Module

• The ability to act safely and effectively when an accident or emergency occurs
• The treatment and priorities of care for an unconscious patient
• The recognition of cardiac arrest and delivery of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• The ability to safely and promptly treat a patient who is bleeding
• The ability to recognise and treat a patient in shock
• The keeping of simple records following an accident at work
• Students will also learn to provide care for patients who have: suffered a burn or scald, injured bones, muscles or joints, been poisoned by ingestion or inhalation of a substance or gas, suffered an injury to the eye
• Signs & symptoms of a major illness e.g. heart attack

The Introduction to Wine Chemistry and Principles of Winemaking will be assessed via a 30-minute multiple choice test.

The PA1 qualification will be assessed via an online multiple-choice quiz. The Lantra Tractor Driving and PA3 qualifications will be externally assessed by a City & Guilds / Lantra assessor. The Emergency First Aid at Work and Dynamic Risk Assessment will be assessed by the trainer on the level of participation of students & completion of specific activities.

19+ & living or working in West Sussex

No previous experience required, but a passion for physical work is a must!

This course is suitable for those currently working in or seeking employment at a winery.

Cost & Equipment:

You will need suitable clothing for working in the cold and performing tasks involving water in the winery.  

A sturdy pair of boots, preferably with steel toe caps, is required.

Working clothes or overalls & Wet Weather gear

Packed Lunch

This Skills Bootcamp is FREE for learners who meet the eligibility criteria. Please see more here