Description

A student that enrolls in Chemeketa’s Vineyard Management/Winemaking Program can earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Vineyard Management, or Winemaking, and/or Wine Marketing, or a certificate in Vineyard Operations.  The degrees prepare persons for successful employment as vineyard managers, winemakers, cellar managers, laboratory technicians, tasting room sales/managers, wine steward, wine club supervisor, wine buyer or broker, wine marketing or distribution or sales managers, wine distribution manager, freelance wine marketing, winery public relations manager, or wine shop owner/manager..  The certificate is appropriate for vineyard technicians.  Training is appropriate for employees of vineyards and wineries as well as for those establishing a vineyard and/or winery business.  All courses can also be taken on a course-by-course basis to satisfy continuing education or personal enrichment needs without formally pursuing a degree or certificate.  Training includes instruction and hands-on activities in the basic knowledge and technical skills required for successful careers in the wine industry.  Practical skills will also be emphasized, and students will gain on-the-job experience in a vineyard or winery through Chemeketa’s Cooperative Work Experience Program.  Most courses are taught late afternoon, evening, and weekends.

One course, General Viticulture (VMW101) is now offered on-line as well as live in the classroom.  In addition, Oregon State University’s (OSU) Department of Horticulture, will accept a block of 30 credit hours of Vineyard Management courses as lower division transfer credit and waive senior intern requirements for Chemeketa students who have completed the Associate of Applied Science degree requirements in Vineyard Management.  This makes possible another option for students who wish to pursue a four-year degree in Horticulture with a Viticulture option.

Winemaking classes include Introduction to Winemaking, Sensory Evaluation of Wines, Science of Winemaking, Chemical Analysis of Musts and Wines, Wine Production and Quality Control, and Winery Planning, Design and Operations. Course content covers wine production practices from harvest to finished wine, including primary processing, fermentation management, wine stabilization and clarification, aging and maturation, filtration and fining, and bottling. Quality control management practices and chemical and sensory laboratory methods for the production of premium commercial wines are integrated with hands-on wine production in the teaching winery. Related courses include microbiology, chemistry, business, and marketing.

Vineyard Management classes include General Viticulture, Spanish in the Vineyard, Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer Vineyard Practices, Soil and Plant Nutrition and Vine Physiology.  Course work in viticulture includes aspects of plant science, vineyard site selection, propagation, soils, and vine nutrition.  Also included are courses in the planning, layout, economics and management of vineyards.  The vineyard practices courses are the core of the Vineyard Management degree concentrating on appropriate vineyard subject matter for that season and utilizing the teaching vineyard for laboratory hands-on activities.  During these courses, first aid and forklift training are covered.  Some proficiency of the Spanish language is important for vineyard managers, because Latinos comprise a large proportion of the vineyard workers.  The ability to communicate with them in their language offers the possibility of making them more productive.

Wine Marketing classes include Introduction to Wine Marketing, Wine Marketing 1-Brand Development, Wine Marketing 2-Understanding the Wine Market Place, Wine Marketing 3-Assessing and Targeting the Market, Wine Appreciation, Wines of the World or Wines of the Pacific Northwest, Sensory Evaluation of Wine Varietals, Sensory Evaluation of Wine Components, Wine Industry Business Management.  Related courses include marketing, math, English, Spanish, psychology, public speaking, sales and persuasion, law, ethics, public relations, web site development, software, advertising, customer service, and event planning.