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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

  • Eight wine bottles on a table
  • Two students picking grapes
  • Man tends to grapes in a vineyard

Why choose Wine Studies?

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.

  • Spring Courses

    Note: All classes are currently scheduled to be held online at least through April 28, 2020. Please contact megan.jensen@chemeketa.edu with any questions. 

    VMW 101 General Viticulture

    Mondays, 3-5:50 pm
    CRN 81696
    Instructor: Bryan Berenguer
    Location: Chemeketa Eola, Bldg 1, Syrah Room E11
    Cost: $370

    VMW 132 Wines of the World

    Tuesdays, 6-8:50 pm
    CRN: 81485
    Instructor: Jade Helm
    Location: Chemeketa Eola, Bldg 1, Pinot Noir Room E104
    Cost: $555

    VMW 170 Selling and Marketing Wine

    ONLINE CLASS
    CRN: 79109
    Instructor: Eric Aebi
    Cost: $370

    VMW 246 Wine Aging, Filtration and Bottling

    Wednesdays, 3-5:50 pm (Lecture) & 5-7:50 pm (Lab)
    CRN: 72410 & 72415
    Instructor: Don Crank
    Location: Chemeketa Eola, Bldg 1, Pinot Noir Room E104
    Cost: $555

    VMW 254 Winery Process Planning & Design

    Mondays, 2-4:50 pm
    CRN: 81486
    Instructor: Johnny Brose
    Location: Chemeketa Eola, Bldg 2, Erath Lab Room 127
    Cost: $370

    VMW 262 Vineyard Pest Management

    Wednesdays, 5:30-8:50pm + two Saturday field trips
    CRN: 80523
    Instructor: Ashley Lindsay
    Location: Chemeketa Eola, Bldg 1, Syrah Room E11
    Cost: $495

    VMW 280A Wine Studies Internship

    2-12 credits
    Dates/Times TBD
    Instructor: Johnny Brose
    Instructor Consent Required – Contact Johnny Brose for registration information

    VMW 290 Capstone

    Tuesdays, 6-7:50 pm
    CRN: 80521
    Instructor: Bryan Berenguer
    Location: Chemeketa Eola, Bldg 2, Erath Lab Room 127
    Instructor Consent Required – Contact Bryan Berenguer for registration information