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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

  • Man tends to grapes in a vineyard

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.

Upcoming Courses

  • Fall Courses

    VMW117 Fall Vineyard Practices (4 Credits)

    Thursdays, 2-4:50 pm (Lecture) & 6-7:50 pm (Lab)
    September 14-November 22
    CRN: 37343 (Lecture) & 37344 (Lab) – Must register for both
    Instructor: Staff
    Location: Northwest Wine Studies Center, Bldg. 1, Rm. E11
    Cost: $520

    VMW122 Introduction to Winemaking (3 Credits)

    Mondays, 3-5:50 pm
    September 10-November 19
    CRN: 38123
    Instructor: Scott Dwyer
    Location: Northwest Wine Studies Center, Bldg. 2, Rm. 127
    Cost: $340

    VMW244 Wine Production (6 Credits)

    Wednesdays, 3-7:50 pm & Saturdays, 9 am-1:50 pm
    September 12-November 24
    CRN: 32438 (Lecture) & 38866 (Lab) – Must register for both
    Instructor: Scott Dwyer
    Location: Northwest Wine Studies Center, Bldg. 2, Rm. 127
    Cost: $665

    VMW101 General Viticulture (3 Credits)

    Tuesdays, 6-8:50 pm
    CRN: 31800
    Instructor: Staff
    Location: Northwest Wine Studies Center, Bldg. 1, Rm. E11
    Cost: $340

    VMW131 Wine Appreciation (3 Credits)

    Wednesdays, 6-8:50 pm
    CRN: 30264
    Instructor: Staff
    Location: Northwest Wine Studies Center, Bldg. 1, Rm. E104
    Cost: $505

    VMW134 Wines of the Pacific Northwest (3 Credits)

    Mondays, 6-8:50 pm
    CRN: 33928
    Instructor: Jade Helm
    Location: Northwest Wine Studies Center, Bldg. 1, Rm. E104
    Cost: $525

    SOIL205 Soil Science (4 Credits)

    Tuesdays, 1:30-2:50 pm & Thursdays, 1:30-5:50
    CRN: 41044 (Lecture) & 41045 (Lab) – Must register for both
    Instructor: Erica Chernoh
    Location: Salem Campus, Bldg. 7, Rm. 104
    Cost: $475

  • Winter Courses

    VMW101 General Viticulture (3 Credits)

    Tuesdays, 6-8:50 pm
    CRN: 50753
    Instructor: Rebecca Sweet
    Location: Northwest Wine Studies Center, Bldg. 1, Rm. E11
    Cost: $340

    VMW 105 Spanish in the Vineyard (3 Credits)

    Tuesdays, 6-8:50 pm
    CRN: 61672
    Instructor: Maria Catoira-Rice
    Location: Yamhill Valley Campus, Bldg. 1, Rm. 204
    Cost: $340

    VMW 114 Winter Vineyard Practices (4 Credits)

    Thursdays, 1:00-3:50 pm & 4:00-5:50 pm
    CRN: 57597 (Lecture) and 57598 (Lab) – Must register for both
    Instructor: Staff
    Location: Northwest Wine Studies Center, Bldg. 1, Rm. E11
    Cost: $550

    VMW 132 Wines of the World (3 Credits)

    Wednesdays, 6-8:50 pm
    CRN: 61659
    Instructor: Jade Helm
    Location: Northwest Wine Studies Center, Bldg. 1, Rm. E104
    Cost: $525

    VMW 223 Fundamentals of Chemistry for Winemaking (5 Credits)

    Mondays, 3:00-5:50 pm & Tuesdays, 2:00-5:50 pm
    CRN: 61657 (Lecture) and 61658 (Lab) – Must register for both
    Instructor: Staff
    Location: Northwest Wine Studies Center, Bldg. 2, Rm. 127
    Cost: $605

    VMW 232 Sensory Eval/Wine Varietal (3 Credits)

    Thursdays, 6:30-9:20 pm
    CRN: 60265
    Instructor: Patrick McElligott
    Location: Northwest Wine Studies Center, Bldg. 1, Rm. E104
    Cost: $525

    VMW 245 Wine Clarification/Stabilization (4 Credits)

    Wednesdays, 3:00-5:50 pm & 6:00-7:50 pm
    CRN: 57587 (Lecture) and 57572 (Lab) – Must register for both
    Instructor: Scott Dwyer
    Location: Northwest Wine Studies Center, Bldg. 2, Rm. 127
    Cost: $455

    VMW 254 Winery Process Planning/Design (3 Credits)

    Thursdays, 2-4:50 pm
    CRN: 62084
    Instructor: Staff
    Location: Yamhill Valley Campus, Bldg. 1, Rm. 201
    Cost: $340      

    VMW 261 Vine Physiology (4 Credits)

    Mondays, 6:00-8:50 pm
    CRN: 62897
    Instructor: Staff
    Location: Northwest Wine Studies Center, Bldg. 1, Rm. E11
    Cost: $445