Grape pickers harvest Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir in Marlborough vineyards Feb-April. Earn NZD 24-32/hr piece rate ($8K-14K per 8-10 week season), hand picking bunches, vineyard rows, quality checks. Invivo Wines, Cloudy Bay, Saint Clair hiring NOW – fit teams for mid-March start!
Job Overview
Job Title: Grape Picker / Vineyard Harvester / Pruner / Machinery Assistant
Location: Marlborough (Blenheim, Renwick), Hawke’s Bay, Central Otago
Industry: Viticulture, Wine Production
Hiring Companies: Cloudy Bay, Invivo, Saint Clair, Lawson’s Dry Hills, Ata Rangi
Job Demand: High (vintage Feb-April 2026)**
Job Responsibilities
- Hand pick ripe grape bunches into lugs/bins.
- Walk vineyard rows (8-10km/day), clip stems carefully.
- Quality sort (no leaves/rotten grapes).
- Load harvest bins onto trailers.
- Machinery assist (Pellenc harvesters).
- Pruning winter work (June-August).
Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit: 18-50 years
Experience: Entry-level OK, vineyard training given
License: Preferred harvest transport
Fitness: Walking hills, bending, 12kg lugs
Checks: Drug test vineyards
Salary & Benefits 🔥
| Details | Info |
|---|---|
| Pay Rate | NZD 24-32/hr equiv. |
| Lug Rate | $2-4/lug |
| Weekly Avg | NZD 1,000-1,600 |
| Season Total | NZD 8K-14K (8-10wks) |
| Accommodation | $120-160/wk vineyard |
| Meals | Provided |
| Transport | Vineyard shuttles |
| Bonus | Fast teams |
Salary Structure
| Speed Level | Hourly Equiv. | Lugs/Day | Weekly Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | NZD 24 | 400-500 | $1,000 |
| Average | NZD 27-29 | 600-800 | $1,200-1,400 |
| Fast Pro | NZD 30-32+ | 900+ | $1,600+ |
Related Job Posts
| Job Title | Company/Location | Pay/Details | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grape Picker | Cloudy Bay/Blenheim | March start | Teams |
| Vineyard Hand | Invivo/Renwick | Accomm incl. | Fast pace |
| Pruner Winter | Saint Clair/HB | June-August | Secateurs |
| Machinery Op | Viticultural Contracting | Tractor exp | License |
Visa & Documents
Visa Options: Working Holiday, Seasonal Accredited Employer
Required:
✓ Passport
✓ Police clearance
✓ Medical fit
How to Apply
- BackpackerJobBoard.co.nz/vineyard
- NZWine.com/careers
- CloudyBay.co.nz/work-with-us
👉 Apply NOW Marlborough Grape Harvest
Important Tips
- Teams pick FASTEST (row buddies)
- Marlborough = best pay + wine perks
- Mid-March vintage – register February
- Sauvignon Blanc easiest variety
- Winter pruning = year-round work
- Full season = strong references
FAQs
No experience?
Yes! Clipper training day 1
Piece rate?
Guaranteed min wage slow days
Live-in?
Vineyard bunkhouses $150/wk
Rain?
Usually off
Drug test?
Common wine industry
Conclusion
Grape picking = NZ$8K-14K wine country cash, vintage NOW! Cloudy Bay hiring Marlborough TODAY. Register BackpackerBoard IMMEDIATELY – vineyard teams secure lug bonuses. Harvest NZ’s finest wines 2026!
👉 APPLY NOW FOR GRAPES PICKING JOBS IN NZ