Assistant Cidermaker + Winemaker
Posted 12/12/25 — Deadline 2/28/26
Company DESCRIPTION
Our mission is to honor our family farm legacy, engage our community, empower our local economy and tread lightly.
Peter Fraleigh purchased this land in 1798 and formally established and named Rose Hill Farm in 1812. Six generations proceeded him and in 2001, the New York State Agricultural Society honored Rose Hill Farm and then owners Dave and Karen Fraleigh, as the only fruit orchard among ten Bicentennial Family Farms.
Two decades ago, Dave and Karen Fraleigh listened to their customers’ requests to pick their own apples and recognized their yearning to reconnect with the land. They subsequently transitioned the farm from a wholesale apple orchard to a Pick Your Own model and expanded the crops to include cherries, blueberries, peaches, raspberries, apples, pumpkins and winter squash.
In 2015, Bruce and Holly Brittain and Chris Belardi purchased Rose Hill Farm. Our shared vision is to grow the family friendly Pick Your Own orchard, be effective stewards of the land, utilize holistic growing practices to improve the health of our crops and our land, and preserve the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley.
In January 2020, the team launched a winery brand (including a range of wine, cider and co-fermented fruit wine) and opened the Taproom at Rose Hill Farm in August of the same year.
We value transparency and seek to educate our customers about what we do and how we do it. We employ environmentally sound, humane and sustainable farming practices. We are committed to preserving the environment through the use of renewable energy, water conservation and responsible farming practices. We hope to become a place where our patrons can learn and enjoy and connect with the land and each other. We look forward to sharing our farm with you!
JOB DESCRIPTION
We are a small, tight-knit crew who are passionate about wholistic land stewardship, sustainable practices, hard work, social justice, and building community. Every employee is a valued and respected member of the team, and every effort is made to allow your individual strengths to shine.
We are currently seeking a dedicated and experienced individual to support the head cidermaker + winemaker in shepherding grapes, apples, and other fruits from raw material to bottle.
Our cellar team selects premium quality whole fruit and facilitates native yeast fermentations without additives. We strive for zero waste and utilize our apples, plums, peaches, cherries, blueberries, and apricots for fermentation.
Our low intervention approach allows the fruits to truly express not only themselves but our Hudson Valley terroir. We don’t add harsh chemicals like malic/tartaric acids or fining agents—and we don’t use the industrially common processes of filtering, pasteurizing, back-sweetening, or force carbonating.
Grinding, foot-stomping, pressing and bottling is all done by hand on a small scale with care and attention to detail.
Compensation and Benefits
$70,000-$75,000/year DOE
Health Insurance: Covered 50% by company
401k after 1 year
10 days/year PTO for first 3 years, 15 days/year after
Paid Sick Time
job Requirements
Full time year round
Extended, irregular harvest hours expected
Vacation Blackout September-October
Must be able to lift 40lbs
Must be able to stand on your feet for long stretches of time
2-3 years of cellar and/or harvest experience preferred
Sensory acuity for taste, smell, and visual analysis
Forklift and tractor experience is an advantage
Self-starter who prizes cleanliness, organization, teamwork, and respectful communication
key responsibilities
Harvest and Fruit Handling
Supervise fruit sorting as necessary
Operate press, destemmer, pump
Drive flatbed truck to pick up fruit during harvest
Fermentation and Cellar Work
Conduct daily punchdowns and pumpovers as required
Occasional foot treading
Observe spontaneous fermentation through taste, aroma, and visual cues
Alert Head Cidermaker + Winemaker of any off-notes
Conduct daily measurements of specific gravity through fermentation
Riddling
Hygienic maintenance of the cellar and drains
Vessel and Barrel Care
Clean and sanitize tanks and barrels
Carry out topping and racking
Clean and sanitize pump and hoses
Bottling and Packaging
Prep and rack products for bottling
Clean and sanitize the bottling line, corker, and capper
Labeling
Disgorging
Preparing and packing large orders for distribution
Records and Hospitality
Keep concise logbooks of fermentations and sensory observations
Pour at fairs and events as required
Please email Sam Rogers (Sam@pickrosehillfarm.com) with your resume and an explanation of your background and interest in the position.