Job Details
Job Title: Vineyard Intern – Hand-Farmed Syrah in the Italian Alps
Job Type: Internship
Job Description: Azienda Vitivinicola Olivieri is a small family vineyard in Reclou, Montjovet, in Italy's Aosta Valley. We grow Syrah on a steep (~20%) slope at about 550 m elevation, and everything is done by hand.
Our approach is inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka's natural farming: we observe first, intervene as little as possible and work with the ecosystem rather than against it. The vines are trained as traditional Aosta Valley bush vines (alberello valdostano). We prune following CODIT principles (Compartmentalization Of Decay In Trees), respecting the vine's sap flow and limiting large cuts so the plant stays healthy and long-lived.
We are looking for students and recent graduates in viticulture, enology or agronomy who want to learn mountain viticulture hands-on.
What you'll do
Take part in the vineyard's seasonal work, from pruning to hand picking and the first winemaking steps
Manage the canopy by hand and do green pruning following CODIT principles
Handle organic plant protection and vineyard monitoring
Use the vineyard's weather station data to model disease risk and irrigation needs
Have a say in how the wine is made and presented
Depending on the season, help with other farm activities, such as sowing and tending the vegetable garden and cutting firewood
When
You can join for 3 months or for the full season (March–October). If you join for 3 months, choose the period that interests you most:
March – May: Pruning & spring care. Pruning, vine management, green pruning, and organic disease and pest management.
May – July: Canopy & new planting. Vine management, green pruning, organic disease and pest management, and preparing the ground for a new vineyard planting.
August – October: Harvest & winemaking. Preparing the vineyard for harvest, hand picking and winemaking.
What we offer
One-to-one mentoring from the grower, on a small vineyard where every task matters
A setting between Alpine peaks, close to Aosta, Turin and the French and Swiss borders
Working languages: English, Italian and French
Accommodation and meals are not included. We're a small family operation, but we're glad to help you find a place to stay nearby, and to share meals and a glass of our wine whenever we can.
Free time in the mountains: we love hiking, mountaineering and climbing, and we're happy to show you our favourite trails, routes and crags on days off.
Who we're looking for
Students enrolled in a relevant degree, ideally eligible for an Erasmus+ Traineeship or a curricular internship through their university
Motivated, physically fit and comfortable with outdoor work on slopes
Not a student? Get in touch anyway: anyone with a genuine interest in wine and mountain viticulture is welcome to apply, and we'll find the right way to make it work
How to apply: send your CV and a short motivation letter, with your preferred period, to [email protected]
Get a feel for the place: follow our day-to-day in the vineyard and the mountains on Instagram at @lvrfrc87
Our approach is inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka's natural farming: we observe first, intervene as little as possible and work with the ecosystem rather than against it. The vines are trained as traditional Aosta Valley bush vines (alberello valdostano). We prune following CODIT principles (Compartmentalization Of Decay In Trees), respecting the vine's sap flow and limiting large cuts so the plant stays healthy and long-lived.
We are looking for students and recent graduates in viticulture, enology or agronomy who want to learn mountain viticulture hands-on.
What you'll do
Take part in the vineyard's seasonal work, from pruning to hand picking and the first winemaking steps
Manage the canopy by hand and do green pruning following CODIT principles
Handle organic plant protection and vineyard monitoring
Use the vineyard's weather station data to model disease risk and irrigation needs
Have a say in how the wine is made and presented
Depending on the season, help with other farm activities, such as sowing and tending the vegetable garden and cutting firewood
When
You can join for 3 months or for the full season (March–October). If you join for 3 months, choose the period that interests you most:
March – May: Pruning & spring care. Pruning, vine management, green pruning, and organic disease and pest management.
May – July: Canopy & new planting. Vine management, green pruning, organic disease and pest management, and preparing the ground for a new vineyard planting.
August – October: Harvest & winemaking. Preparing the vineyard for harvest, hand picking and winemaking.
What we offer
One-to-one mentoring from the grower, on a small vineyard where every task matters
A setting between Alpine peaks, close to Aosta, Turin and the French and Swiss borders
Working languages: English, Italian and French
Accommodation and meals are not included. We're a small family operation, but we're glad to help you find a place to stay nearby, and to share meals and a glass of our wine whenever we can.
Free time in the mountains: we love hiking, mountaineering and climbing, and we're happy to show you our favourite trails, routes and crags on days off.
Who we're looking for
Students enrolled in a relevant degree, ideally eligible for an Erasmus+ Traineeship or a curricular internship through their university
Motivated, physically fit and comfortable with outdoor work on slopes
Not a student? Get in touch anyway: anyone with a genuine interest in wine and mountain viticulture is welcome to apply, and we'll find the right way to make it work
How to apply: send your CV and a short motivation letter, with your preferred period, to [email protected]
Get a feel for the place: follow our day-to-day in the vineyard and the mountains on Instagram at @lvrfrc87
Pay Scale: 0-300$
Job Location: Italy - Aosta Valley
Start Date: March 15, 2027
End Date: October 31, 2027
Company Name: Azienda Vitivinicola Olivieri
Company Description: Azienda Vitivinicola Olivieri is a small family winery in the hamlet of Reclou, in Montjovet, in Italy's Aosta Valley. Our vineyard lies on a steep mountain slope at roughly 550 m above sea level, surrounded by the peaks of the Western Alps. We grow a single variety, Syrah.The slope here reaches about 20%, and every task, from pruning to harvest, is done by hand. Working by hand keeps us close to each plant and lets us notice what a machine would miss.Our philosophy is inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka's natural farming. We observe before we act, intervene as little as possible and treat the vineyard as part of a living ecosystem rather than a production line.We use organic methods to manage the vines, the soil and plant health.The vines are trained as traditional Aosta Valley bush vines (alberello valdostano), a form suited to steep mountain slopes. We prune following CODIT principles (Compartmentalization Of Decay InTrees): we respect the vine's sap flow and avoid large cuts, so the plants stay healthy and long-lived.We are a small operation, and we intend to stay that way. Our size lets us take care of every vine and every bottle, and welcome people who want to learn mountain viticulture up close. The vineyard is within easy reach of Aosta, Turin and the French and Swiss borders, and when the work is done, the mountains around us are perfect for hiking, mountaineering and climbing.
Contact Name: Federico Olivieri
Contact E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +393895561519
Application Deadline: Application is open until filled