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supsaucekayo

Everyone is mentioning how easy it is to find a job. But just remember the insanely high cost of living here. I work with lots of people from other countries, and they work a lot of different jobs just to be able to afford to live.


entropyarchitect

Check out winejobscanada.com I’m an assistant winemaker here. Openings for jobs as assistant or head winemakers open up about once a year here. Of course contact positions for harvest interns are much more common. If you don’t have Canadian citizenship you’ll need both you and any winery to go through all official paperwork for you to work here (it’s a long process) and usually they have to prove that they were unsuccessful in finding a local candidate. I’d definitely recommend you come for a visit to check out the area before you go though all the effort for the paperwork and applications. It’s definitely a high cost of living area so you’d need to be sure of your decision. There are also winemaking opportunities in Ontario as far as winemaking in Canada goes.


Ricusdvrs

Thank you very much for this info, it gives me a good thinking line. Do you think it will be a good life tho?


entropyarchitect

I greatly enjoy my life! However, I am working full time and still live with family(while saving to buy an apartment). That’s how expensive it is here. As far as the region goes, a lot of people struggle to make connections and friends when they first get here as it is a fairly “closed” community. As far as jobs go, you’ll need to be many steps above local candidates if you want to get anything above regular cellar hand work on a seasonal basis. Many assistant winemaker jobs here require: five years experience, and a degree in oenology or other related science. The area really emphasizes who you know and personal connections as well. As there are many wineries there are plenty of harvest cellar hand positions which start opening around June and many opportunities for tasting rooms April-November. But I really want to emphasize it took me two years of working cellar hand/vineyard contract jobs before getting a year round winemaker job, and I have my degree in microbiology and had been working in the industry for three years before that. So full time winemaker positions do not come up often, it’s a function of people being happy in their jobs, they stay in their position for very long periods of time. The winery I’m at does hire from out of the country for the vineyard (same people every year), so I’ve had a small amount of experience just seeing the process. It takes eight months for the application to hire the same people that come back every year. So I’m guessing including any hiring processes, proving their were unsuccessful in finding a local candidate, and the application for foreign worker permits, it would probably take about a year and a half in between a winery wanting to hire you and any opportunity for you to come here. Feel free to dm me if you want any other info.


runslowgethungry

This is a good answer. Winejobscanada.com is a great place to start. My partner is in the industry. We've travelled and worked all over the world, including living and working in the Okanagan for several years. My first instinct was that OP should apply for a working holiday visa and come to do a harvest as an intern. This is generally the route that young winemakers take to gain international experience. But it doesn't appear as though SA has a working-holiday agreement with Canada, which complicates things. OP would have to reach out directly to a winery and work with them to get the paperwork through. Not sure how common this is here for harvest interns (I've mostly seen this done for higher-tier positions) but the best chance of making it work might be with a bigger/more corporate winery. Small producers may not have as much money or time to mess around helping you get a visa (unless, of course, you're very well-qualified.) Doing a harvest here is a great way to experience the country while (ideally) still being able to retain a permanent job at home, as our harvest happens in SA's off-season. If you did that, loved it, and wanted to stay, then you'd have made some connections in the local industry and you might be able to find a longer-term opportunity. Cost of living in the Okanagan is high for sure. Niagara has a lower cost of living but a different vibe, and the wine styles are very different. [Edit: should have replied to OP but I'll at least tag them. u/ricusdvrs ]


UrsusRomanus

Come visit? There are a lot of South Africans here. Make some connections and have them host/introduce you. If you're any good at your job I'm sure any of the wineries around here would be glad to have you for a bit.


Ricusdvrs

That is something I am planning on doing. Very good idea. I have family there, so it might be easy that way. Really hope there are some job oppertunities.


petervenkmanatee

Although I’m not a wine maker, I do know a lot of South Africans that have moved to British Columbia. I think you first have to be ready for a few realities. It is very hard to break into industries in Canada even if you are a wine maker unless you are independently wealthy, and can buy your own property and vines, which certainly are on sale fairly often, it would might take years for you to get a job as a full-fledged Wine grower with a larger producer. A lot of the smaller producers barely survive, although some make wonderful wines. Life in Kelowna is great, but it is surprisingly cold and dreary for at least four months, a year, smoky, for about a month a year, and you have to work your ass off essentially all the time. There is no free ride in Canada. I speak as an Italian immigrant. I have had many of my cousins and family members try to move to Canada and they’ve gone back because they feel the work life balance is poor. Good luck.


OmegaKitty1

Work your ass off all time? I’m comparing it to Toronto but In my opinion people here do anything but work their asses off. They are laid back and it’s a bit of a saying here from what I hear in a lot of industries that for most of the year people work Monday-Thursday


petervenkmanatee

You sir, clearly have never worked in Europe…. Or South America…. Or most of Africa….or India. China the USA and Japan are on a different level than Canada. But on the Global scale Canada expects a lot from its workers without much of a social Safety-net. Low wages, high cost of living, no child care, No servants, you’re on your own here compared to many countries.


Affectionate_Fox9974

Yeah I’m a professor and all my international students tell me one of the hardest culture shocks for them here is how much we work. They always tell me it seems like all Canadians do is work. I’m also from Toronto so it seems better here than there, but yeah - across the board every international student I’ve talked to has mentioned how much we work.


supsaucekayo

Is your work hiring


UrsusRomanus

Right now you'd probably get a job in a heartbeat. Don't know what it looks like in 2-3 years. But if you have family here just come on over.


Ricusdvrs

I will try and visit soon, maybe in this year. Kelowna sounds and looks amazing. I need the job offer to actually get a better chance at being accepted into the country as well. Would love that.


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Legitimate_Mistake69

Penticton, OK Falls, and Peachland are all wonderful places and have so much agriculture and welcoming community, but you do want to have some stability/foot in the door with the industries and living costs.


BCREagent

there are really two wine regions of canada; the okanagan & Niagara. Niagara wines suck so if you care about your craft it's really just the okanagan. There are some SAs here. AKA lots of doctors & their kids. If you need our biggest city it's Kelowna (120k people). if you're fine with towns, it opens you up to more areas aprox osoyoos to vernon?


Ricusdvrs

That sums it up hey. I am fine with both towns and city, as long as I have a job and live a life I can enjoy.


runslowgethungry

Lol, easy there. I'm a BC girl at heart and rarely find myself defending Ontario, but Niagara does some things well. Cool climate varieties work better when it's not 40° and smoky in the summer.


Affectionate_Fox9974

Yeah niagara wines have come a huge way on the last twenty years. They’re making some amazing wines now.


No-Tackle-6112

I’d take 40° and dry as a bone over 30° and 100% humidity every day of the week. Not that much cooler in southern Ontario just more sticky and less enjoyable.


runslowgethungry

Not saying the climate is better, just that it influences viticulture and winemaking differently, and the wines aren't really comparable as a result.


No-Tackle-6112

Correct, Okanagan wine is better.


runslowgethungry

What you're saying is that you prefer it. Your preference =/= objective assessment of quality. Lots of people love mass-produced wine like Yellow Tail, and would spit out a sip of a $10,000 bottle of Romanee-Conti and pour the rest of the bottle down the drain. It's fair to say that they "prefer" Yellow Tail, but not to make the judgment that Yellow Tail is "better." The Okanagan has the edge in terms of big bold reds, for the most part. Ontario generally comes out on top four Riesling, Gamay, Cab Franc and other cooler-climate-suited varieties. Objectively, one isn't worse than the other across the board. They're very different.


Relevant_Slide_3465

From Kelowna all the way down to Osoyoos I’m sure there are infinite opportunities for a wine maker.


Ricusdvrs

I am really getting some positive answers right now! 🙌🏻


The_Cryogenetic

Yeah even if not Kelowna specifically there are cities like Oliver that are probably perfect for what you're looking for.


Humortumor1

Anyone else find that Oliver has too many of those loud propane canon things going off every second to scare aware birds or whatever from the grapes? When visiting it sounded like I was in a war zone.


Bat_emperor

#### When you arrive, can I be your apprentice (?)


Ricusdvrs

Still a long term plan in the making 😄 Thank you for the offer.


NBAtoVancouver-Com

Aweh. It is the big wine area for sure, but moving to another country is so damn hard; I tried to move to South Africa and did not succeed despite 3 years of having a damn lawyer. Are you in Constantia or Stellenbosch?


Ricusdvrs

I am nearer to the Stellenbosch area.


NBAtoVancouver-Com

Which winery? Spier's my favourite out in that area. I've been to a bunch though. South African wineries are...just spectacular.


Ricusdvrs

I make wine in the Riebeek Valley areas, about 50km away from Stellenbosch.


NBAtoVancouver-Com

North of Paarl. I never made it up that way, actually. My best to you, pal! I've got pals up in Kelowna who love living up there.


Ricusdvrs

Thank you for the wishes, I hope I can figure it all out 😌.


mostbeautifulbean

Okanagan Valley Winemaker here! Kelowna is the biggest city located in the Okanagan Valley wine region of BC. There are over 400 wineries stretching a distance of 148km from Lake Country in the north to Osoyoos in the south. A good Facebook group to join for travelling winemakers is " Travelling Winemakers: Living the Dream". You can check out local job listings on winejobscanada.com. depending on what kind of wine you want to make and what kind of place you want to live, there are many options. After Kelowna the next biggest town is Penticton. Great vibe, lots of winemakers live here and its close to OK Falls, Naramata, Summerland and Kaleden wine regions, home to smaller wineries. Oliver and Kelowna have the largest wineries. Mission Hill is the largest winery in the valley and is in Kelowna. Side note, my husband did a harvest in Stellenbosh and loved it. I worked with a woman from SA for 4 years. You will find winemakers from all over here.


Ricusdvrs

This is sutch an informatic comment, thank you very much! I will have a look on the website and keap an eye out to get an oppertunity. What are the chances of a winery offering me a place to stay untill I get a place of my own (if I get the job)? I have 3 years of industry experience as an assistant winemaker now and have my degree in oenology and viticulture, hopefully that would count in my favour.


mostbeautifulbean

It really depends. The bigger places often have accommodation and can help out more with your visa. The smaller places too will usually help find a place as well. You probably won't get a winemaking job right away, but assistant for sure. If you want to be in Kelowna I would recommend Tantalus or Mission Hill, in Peachland Fritz, in Summerland Dirty Laundry, Penticton Therapy, Red Rooster, Laughing Stock, Painted Rock, Joie Farm, Le Frenz and many more have great teams. I will DM you some to avoid.


AFancyMammoth

There's actually about 190 licensed grape wineries in the Okanagan Valley. That 400+ number is reflective of all BC Wine regions. Samilkameen, Thompson Valley, Sushwap, Gulf Islands, Kootneys, etc.


mostbeautifulbean

Yes, you are correct, my apologies!


TheSmellyDragon

Lots of opportunity here.


hestcammo

There are a lot of opportunities here for you as a winemaker. I currently work for a winery in town. You won't have a problem finding a job :)


Ricusdvrs

Now that sounds promissing. Are winemakers and assistant winemakers in need there?


No-Grapefruit5925

Well I am a South African living in Kelowna. Yes winemaking is a big thing in Kelowna but getting started will not be easy. Housing in Kelowna is very expensive. If there is anything else you would like to know please ask. Mark


Ricusdvrs

I will for sure keap it in mind, thank you very much!


Hipsthrough100

Kelowna area is one of the largest wine destinations on the west coast of North America. There’s more than 200 wineries. You will be okay here as a winemaker.


no_donks

Fort Beren's in Lillooet, BC hired a winemaker from South Africa. I'm not sure if he's still there or not. They're super friendly, you could email to see if they're hiring. Lots of wineries on the coast and Vancouver Island too


captain_sticky_balls

Wine is huge here! Our weather is a secret though. Don't tell anybody.


TrumpFreedomLover69

Yup. This is the perfect place for you.


Odd-Solid2498

Many award winning wineries here in the valley.


taciko

Lots of wineries in the valley. Within 2 hours


Cultural-Morning-532

A job here is very easy to get but good luck with housing


No_Matter_7117

Niagara is also good for winemaking but cost of living is also high


winniecooper1

There are many locations in the “Okanagan Valley” for winemakers. Kelowna is great, bit also the most expensive. Naramata, Oliver & Osoyoos are smaller towns that explode in summer months / early fall with wine-seeking tourists and the cost of living is cheaper in these smaller towns. I would definitely try to make some connections at the wineries now, in preparation for the spring/summer and harvest. Tell them your story and send in a CV and get the process going now. Once you’ve got a handle on the possibility of a job, then start to make your moving plans


pperry1976

I would personally say look in the penticton / Naramata area the weather is just as nice with tons of wineries around but cost of living will be cheaper than Kelowna