Winery & Viticulture Internship — New Zealand
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 New Zealand 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
- Among the highest minimum wages worldwide — strong saving potential
- 100% student and trainee visa approval rate on the program to date
- Settlement support: travel, accommodation, bank account and orientation
- Full pastoral care for the whole internship
- Professional Growth Pathways for post-internship work, study or residency
- Work in one of the world's safest, cleanest and most inclusive countries
Structured week-by-week training.
Salary
Paid at or above the New Zealand minimum wage of NZD 23.95/hour (approx. USD 14.50). A minimum 30-hour average work week is guaranteed, and during peak harvest most interns work 45–72 hours per week — which is when earning and saving potential is highest.
Accommodation
Settlement team books shared accommodation near your workplace, typically around NZD 150 per week including utilities. Interns cover rent and food; airport arrival support, bank account setup and a cultural orientation induction are arranged for you.
Work Schedule
Guaranteed minimum 30-hour average week across the season, rising to 45–72 hours during harvest peaks. Rosters follow the crop cycle, with quieter weeks between harvest windows.
From application to arrival.
Student and Trainee Work Visa, lodged only after a confirmed job offer. Our New Zealand partner holds a 100% student and trainee visa approval rate and a 97.5% intern placement rate, with full pastoral care from acceptance through to settlement.
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.
What does the New Zealand program cost?
The New Zealand internship package for India is NZD 6,450 in total, covering eligibility and compliance checks (NZD 1,585), visa preparation and lodgement (NZD 1,690), placement, pre-departure orientation, pastoral care and settlement (NZD 1,720) and the NZ Government immigration fee (NZD 1,455). Flights, weekly rent (approx. NZD 150) and food are your own cost.
How soon can I start the New Zealand 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 New Zealand internship journey.
Submit your application — we'll match you with certified host farms and guide the visa end-to-end.
Apply Now