Wine Studies

The Mid-Willamette Valley is a major player in the wine industry. Chemeketa's Wine Studies program offers hands-on training to meet the present and future needs for skilled winemakers, cellar workers, vineyard managers, and lab technicians.

topics Agricultural Sciences

Skills & InterestWorking with your hands

CareersAgricultural Science

Why choose program or class?

Northwest Oregon is celebrated for cool-climate wine grapes, particularly Pinot Noir. There are 1,000-plus vineyards and 725 wineries in Oregon. The vineyard acreage and number of wineries in Oregon have increased substantially over the last decade.

What will you learn?

Our Wine Studies programs will teach you the skills for a number of different careers in the wine industry. This can be from managing the growth and production of wine grapes to the work of turning the grapes grown into wine.

What will you do?

The thriving Oregon wine industry will present you with a number of job and career opportunities. Whether you are interested in becoming a cellar master, winemaker, vineyard manager or something in between - opportunities abound throughout the state's wine industry.

WINEMAKING ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREE
In the Winemaking program, you will learn about fruit and wine chemistry, microbiology and sensory analysis. This will include hands-on training in our onsite commercial vineyard and winery.

You will learn how to –
- Check grape maturity and make harvest decisions
- Process grapes
- Manage fermentation
- Use and maintain winery equipment
- Perform quality control
- Build a winery facility
- Comply with government regulations
See Course Sequences for more information.
VINEYARD MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREE
In the Vineyard Management program, you will learn chemistry, plant science and business management as it relates to farming. This will include hands-on training in our on-site commercial vineyard and winery.

You will learn how to –
- Evaluate a site for winegrape growing
- Track vineyard operations and prepare reports
- Project timing of vineyard operations
- Properly perform seasonal work including pruning, integrated pest management, canopy management, vineyard floor management and crop regulation
- Comply with government regulations
- Develop a vineyard business plan
See Course Sequences for more information.
VINEYARD OPERATIONS CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
The Vineyard Operations certificate teaches you the skills needed for employment as a vineyard technician or if you're interested in starting a vineyard.

You will learn how to –
- Evaluate a site for winegrape growing
- Track vineyard operations and prepare reports
- Properly perform seasonal vineyard work including pruning, disease and pest control, canopy management and crop regulation
See Course Sequences for more information.
Wine Hospitality & Operations Certificate

The Wine Hospitality Operations certificate prepares you for supervisory positions in winery tasting rooms. Tasting rooms have emerged as a critical sales channel for local wineries seeking to maximize revenue and creating loyal customers.

This Independent Course of Study combines courses from both the Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) department and the Wine Studies (VMW) department.

You will enjoy a unique opportunity to gain real-life experience in the tasting room and wine club at the Northwest Wine Studies Center at Chemeketa Eola to support the sale of Chemeketa Cellars wines.

See Course Sequences for more information.
Summer Courses

VMW 116 Summer Vineyard Practices

Thursdays, 1-6:20 pm
Lecture: CRN 16800/ Lab: CRN 16801
Instructor: Allen Holstein
Location: Chemeketa Eola, Bldg 1, Room E11
Cost: $510

VMW 170 Selling and Marketing Wine

Online
CRN: 17912
Instructor: Eric Abei
Cost: $370

VMW260 Nutrition and Irrigation Management

Tuesdays, 5:00-7:50 pm
CRN 17163
Instructor: Angie Mestas
Location: Chemeketa Eola, Bldg 1, Room E11
Cost: $395
Fall Courses

VMW 101 General Viticulture

Tuesdays, 6-8:50 pm
CRN 31800
Instructor: Staff
Location: Chemeketa Eola, Bldg 1, Room E11
Cost: $660

VMW 117 Fall Vineyard Practices

Thursdays, 9 am-2:50 pm
CRN 37343 (Lecture) & CRN 37344 (Lab)
Instructor: Allen Holstein
Location: Chemeketa Eola, Bldg 1, Room E11
Cost: $660

VMW 122 Intro to Winemaking

Mondays, 3-5:50pm
CRN 38123
Instructor: Staff
Location: Chemeketa Eola, Bldg 2, Room 127
Cost: $370

VMW 131 Wine Appreciation

Thursdays, 4-6:50 pm
CRN 30264
Instructor: Carrie Kalscheuer
Location: Chemeketa Eola, Bldg 1, Room E11
Cost: $535

VMW 134 Wines of the Pacific NW

Mondays, 6-8:50 pm
CRN 33928
Instructor: Jade Helm
Location: Chemeketa Eola, Bldg 1, Room E104
Cost: $535

VMW 222 Science of Winemaking

Online
CRN 42636
Instructor: Scott Dwyer
Cost: $510

VMW 244 Wine Production

Wednesdays, 3-7:50 pm & Saturdays, 9 am-1:50 pm
CRN 32438 (Lecture) & CRN 38866 (Lab)
Instructor: Staff
Location: Chemeketa Eola, Bldg 2, Room 127Cost: $760

VMW 280A Wine Studies Internship

Contact program for registration information (2-12 credits available)

VMW 290 Wine Studies Capstone

Hybrid: Class meets online 9/10-10/15 & in-person Tuesdays, 5-7:50pm, 10/22-11/23
CRN 42635
Instructor: Staff
Location: Chemeketa Eola, Bldg 2, Room 127
Cost: $460