What you need to know Cheat Sheet about going to school for wine EducationBy Liz Thach, MW A a Healdsburg wine shop turned Stephanie certifications: Napa Valley College and Santa Rosa JCall four of our local universities also offer a variety ofchance encounter and friendly challenge in Peachy’s vacation to the wine country into a offer certifications in viticulture, enology and wine mar- quest for an MBA in wine. Jorge Covarrubias, born in keting classes; UC Davis offers an online Mexico, watched his father toil in the vineyards, and certificate in winemaking, and SSU escaped to become an engineer, but was drawn back to offers a certificate in Tasting Room complete an Associate’s in Wine Marketing at Napa Val- Management and an online certifi- ley College and is now working at NapaStyle. What’s the cation in Wine Business Manage- common thread here? I’d say courage, vino, and school. ment. While I’m not here to tell you about courage or vino, I am a professor at Sonoma State University (SSU), and So the big question is, if I com- do have a few things to say about going to school for an plete a degree or certification in education in wine. Here is your cheat sheet to the who, wine, can I land a really cool job with what, where and why of going back to school… or you a big salary in the wine industry? The could always do all the research yourself? answer is “maybe,” but most new grads have to put in their time If you already have a Bachelors degree, consider pursu- first. The majority of wine ing a Master’s. UC Davis offers an M.S. in Viticulture businesses will not hire and Enology and SSU has an evening Wine MBA, as someone who doesn’t well as a weekend Executive program. Or perhaps you have industry experi- want to complete your Bachelor’s degree or obtain a ence, so make sure to second one? Again, both of these universities offer wine apply for part-time degrees at this level. Consider UC Davis’s B.S. in Viticul- jobs in tasting rooms ture and Enology or SSU’s B.S. in Wine Business Strate- or wine shops, or flex gies. your muscles with a har- There are many Associate wine degree opportunities vest or cel- at our local junior colleges. Santa Rosa JC offers A.S. lar intern- degrees in Wine and Vines, Enology, Wine Evaluation & ship. And Service, and Wine Business & Marketing. Napa Valley remember, the has A.S. degrees in Viticulture and Winery Technology, money is decent, with the option to specialize in Viticulture, Winemaking, but not great in or Wine Marketing/Sales. the wine indus- Wine Certifications are plentiful. One of the most popu- try. If you’re lar is the Court of Master Sommeliers, which offers four seeking the big levels: Introductory, Certified Sommelier, Advanced, bucks, perhaps head to Silicon Valley. and Master Sommelier (MS). The Wine & Spirits Educa- But if you’re interested in working in tion Trust (WSET) is equally trendy, focusing on teach- beautiful surroundings for an honest ing participants about the wines and spirits of the world. wage, tasting a lot of good wine and It has also four certification levels, Foundation, Inter- food, and chatting with other like-mind- mediate, Advanced and Diploma, and is offered in both ed souls, then wine work is for you! online and in class format. Those who pass the Diploma level and have five years of wine industry experience Culinary Institute of America (St. Helena), the Society Jorge n wine class StephaniePeachy in Wine- may elect to pursue the Master of Wine (MW). Other well-known wine certifications include the Certi fied Wine Professional Levels 1 and 2 offered by the of Wine Educators’ certifications as Specialist or Educa- tor, and the WISE Academy’s programs in Direct to Consumer and Tasting Room Management. Of course, J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 2 25 2
NVLife_JulyAug_2012
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