Intertwine Insights – Harvest Edition
The vineyards are alive with energy and excitement as harvest reaches its peak, and the people behind the scenes are working harder than ever to make this season a success. By now, most vineyard crews are in place, but the real challenge for winery leaders isn’t just hiring—it’s keeping teams motivated, engaged, and supported through the intensity of harvest.
Small but meaningful gestures can make a lasting impact. Encouraging rest, recognizing milestones, or creating moments of appreciation—like a harvest meal or team toast—help staff feel valued and keep morale strong. These practices not only carry your people through the busiest time in the industry but also build loyalty, making it more likely that great employees will return next season.
Yet, most forward-thinking wineries don’t stop at retention during harvest. They also look ahead. Seasonal staff begin making decisions about their next steps early, and without a plan, it’s easy to lose strong talent once the last grapes are picked. By thinking beyond harvest—whether by transitioning seasonal staff into permanent roles, mapping leadership pipelines, or refreshing recruitment strategies—you set your winery up for stability and long-term success.
At Intertwine, we’ve seen how intentional planning transforms workforce challenges into strengths. One client in Napa, once plagued by turnover, built a year-round staffing strategy that gave seasonal hires a reason to stay engaged. The result was a more consistent guest experience, stronger morale, and less time spent scrambling for staff at odd times of the year.
Harvest is a time of focus, pressure, and reward—but it’s also the perfect moment to invest in the people who make it all possible. If you’re ready to secure your team not just for a vintage but for the seasons ahead, we’d love to start that conversation.