Racking
Racking is an essential winemaking process where wine is moved from one container to another, leaving behind sediment and particles that have settled at the bottom. Think of it like carefully pouring coffee from one cup to another while leaving the grounds behind. This process helps make wine clearer and cleaner, and it's a fundamental skill that winemakers use throughout the wine production process. When you see this term in resumes or job descriptions, it refers to this clarification and refinement process, which can be done manually or with specialized equipment.
Examples in Resumes
Performed Racking operations for 50,000 gallons of wine annually
Supervised Racking and clarification processes for premium wine production
Managed timing of Racking operations to ensure optimal wine clarity
Typical job title: "Cellar Workers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Cellar Workers
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Industry Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you determine the optimal racking schedule for different wine varieties?
Expected Answer: A senior candidate should explain how they consider factors like wine type, desired style, fermentation progress, and sediment formation to create racking schedules. They should mention monitoring wine clarity and tasting throughout the process.
Q: What problems have you encountered during racking and how did you solve them?
Expected Answer: Look for answers that show problem-solving experience, such as handling oxidation issues, managing large volumes, dealing with equipment failures, or addressing contamination risks.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What safety precautions do you take during the racking process?
Expected Answer: Candidate should discuss cleaning procedures, proper equipment handling, awareness of confined space hazards, and maintaining sanitary conditions throughout the process.
Q: Explain how you document the racking process.
Expected Answer: Should describe tracking volumes, dates, tank numbers, clarity observations, and any issues encountered during transfer. Should mention importance of maintaining accurate records.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the basic purpose of racking wine?
Expected Answer: Should explain that racking removes sediment from wine by carefully moving it between containers, helping to clarify the wine and improve its quality.
Q: What equipment is typically used in the racking process?
Expected Answer: Should be able to identify basic equipment like pumps, hoses, tanks, and cleaning supplies used in wine transfer operations.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic wine transfer operations
- Equipment cleaning and sanitization
- Following racking schedules
- Basic wine quality monitoring
Mid (2-5 years)
- Independent racking decisions
- Quality control procedures
- Equipment maintenance
- Process documentation
Senior (5+ years)
- Racking program management
- Training and supervision
- Quality improvement initiatives
- Process optimization
Red Flags to Watch For
- No knowledge of basic wine handling safety
- Unfamiliarity with cleaning and sanitation procedures
- Poor understanding of wine quality indicators
- Lack of attention to detail in record keeping
Related Terms
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