Winery & Viticulture Internship — Australia
Paid vineyard-to-cellar training across a full growing season and vintage.
Program overview
Split your time between the vineyard and the cellar. You will learn canopy management, pruning, irrigation and vineyard nutrition, then move into harvest, crushing, fermentation monitoring, pressing, racking and basic laboratory analysis during vintage — the most intense and rewarding period of the wine calendar. Placements are with vetted Australia host employers, with Agrilivex managing matching, visa documentation and in-country support end to end.
Eligibility
- Diploma / degree in Horticulture, Agriculture, Oenology, Food Technology or allied fields
- Age 18–35 with a valid passport
- Conversational English — no IELTS required
- Fit for physical cellar work and long vintage shifts
- Genuine interest in wine production as a career
Roles & Responsibilities
- Pruning, shoot thinning and canopy management
- Trellis maintenance, irrigation and vineyard nutrition
- Vineyard scouting, disease monitoring and spray records
- Harvest coordination and fruit intake at the crush pad
- Fermentation monitoring, plunging, pump-overs and pressing
- Cellar hygiene, racking, barrel work and basic lab analysis
Skills You'll Learn
- Viticulture across a full growing season
- Vintage cellar operations and winemaking workflow
- Fermentation management and sensory evaluation basics
- Wine lab testing — brix, pH, TA and SO₂
- Barrel handling, blending support and bottling exposure
- Cellar hygiene, food safety and equipment operation
Benefits
- Award-rate AUD wages paid weekly with superannuation
- On-site or subsidised accommodation, often with meals
- Placement under Australia's Approved Employer framework
- Australian workplace mentor plus Agrilivex support
- Certificate of Completion and employer reference letter
- Pathway to extend, upskill or move to a longer-term visa
Structured week-by-week training.
Salary
Award-rate wages — typically AUD 25–32/hour with weekend, evening and overtime loadings. Monthly gross AUD 3,200–4,500 depending on hours. Superannuation is paid on top by the employer and can be claimed back when you leave Australia permanently.
Accommodation
On-site quarters, a shared cottage or a subsidised share house near the workplace. Many rural placements include meals or a food allowance and a vehicle for work use.
Work Schedule
Standard 38–45 hour week with seasonal peaks around harvest, calving, lambing or shearing. One to two rostered days off per week.
From application to arrival.
Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) or Training visa (subclass 407), chosen based on your background and program length. Agrilivex manages employer nomination, documentation and the Australian Embassy submission.
Documents required.
- Passport (minimum 18 months validity)
- Education certificates and transcripts
- Updated CV highlighting any winery & viticulture or farm experience
- English proficiency proof (interview-based, no IELTS)
- Financial capacity documents for the visa
- Medical fitness certificate and police clearance
Frequently asked.
Do I need wine experience?
No. Most interns start with agriculture or food science backgrounds. Vintage is taught on the job, and a completed vintage is a genuinely valuable credential worldwide.
Is superannuation refundable?
Yes. Employer super contributions can be claimed as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment once you leave permanently.
How soon can I start the Australia program?
Intakes run through the year around the winery & viticulture season. From a complete application, most candidates depart within 3–4 months once matching, offer and visa steps are done.
Start your Australia internship journey.
Submit your application — we'll match you with certified host farms and guide the visa end-to-end.
Apply Now