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Landing a job in the wine industry often times starts with a wine education. Before you get too excited, a wine education does not mean a wine tasting (although it would nice if they did). Many careers in the wine industry require Bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, or even acertificate of wine knowledge. Further, the colleges or universities that typically offer these programs are mainly located within the largest wine-producing states. However, let’s start with what programs are offered for a Bachelor’s degree and which schools offer them.
Bachelor’s degrees that are typically required in the wine industry are Viticulture or Enology degrees. These programs are intense with a varied science background. Basically, these are programs for the science of wine or winemaking. These degrees will be required if you aspire to one day be a winemaker or a viticulturist (grape grower). If getting dirty in the vineyards or cellar isn’t your style, a few schools offer Business degrees with concentrations in Wine Business. If managing or owning a winery is your future aspiration, this degree would be a perfect stepping stone.
Here are some schools that offer at least one of these programs in this field:
– Washington State University: This school offers a Viticulture/Enology Bachelor’s degree program.
– Cornell University of New York: This university offers a Viticulture/Enology Bachelor’s degree.
– Fresno State College: They offer a Viticulture/Enology Bachelor’s degree, Masters of Science in Viticulture/Enology, and certificates of study in Viticulture/Enology.
– Sonoma State University: This school offers a Wine Business Strategies Bachelor’s degree.
– UC Davis College: This college offers a Viticulture/Enology Bachelor’s degree.
To get into many of these programs, a background in math, chemistry and biology is recommended and preferred.
It goes without saying, but a relatively high GPA (requirements will vary by school) will aid the entrance to one of these schools- especially in those core classes. Further, many of the insiders consider this a “people business” and recommend high interpersonal skills as well as activities to support that fact.
Depending on the wine industry position your heart is set on, it may only require a certificate of knowledge.Certificate programs typically will only take one to two years for completion. These concentrations will vary by school, but examples of possible certificates are wine business, wine marketing, or viticulture/enology.
Many of the same schools that offer Bachelor’s degrees offer certificate programs; they can also be found under community colleges as a stepping stone towards a Bachelor’s. However, here are some schools that offer certificate programs:
– Northwest Wine Academy (through South Seattle Community College): This community college offers certificates in winemaking, wine marketing and sales, and wine and food pairing.
– Walla Walls Community College: This college offers a certificate of wine marketing and management.
– Santa Rosa Junior College: This school offers certificates in wine business and marketing, enology, and wine service and hospitality.
Finding and affording a college or certificate program can be a difficult task. Many schools offer financial aid and some offer scholarships, so it is important to do research on all the major schools for deciding on one.
Additionally, it is important to give consideration to which type of degree you wish to study before committing to a school. Some schools only offer Enology programs; others only put forward a wine business curriculum.
Finally, talk to some of the current students in the program. How are they financing their education? How difficult is the program for them? Are they able to work part-time or full-time while attending school? Make sure to find out all relevant information before choosing and applying to a school for your wine education.