Wine & Viticulture Major
The major, based on fundamental and applied sciences, modern agribusiness principles, and appropriate social sciences, encompasses grape cultivation, enology, and wine business - creating both an interesting and diverse undergraduate opportunity. The proposed curriculum fosters an academic alliance among production agriculture, food science, and agricultural business interests and provides an academic understanding of the "vine to glass" opportunity. Students will gain extensive hands-on experience in all aspects of the wine industry.
Cal Poly's College of Agriculture currently offers a diverse faculty and nearly 9,000 acres of farmland, including a 100-acre state-of-the-art commercial vineyard. This vineyard provides our students with an excellent opportunity to practice Cal Poly's trademark "Learn by Doing." Graduates of the Wine and Viticulture Major will be uniquely qualified to enter the wine industry.
Enology Concentration
The enology concentration emphasizes the chemical and physical characteristics of wine fermentation. The microbiological and biochemical aspects contributing to wine sensory quality will be emphasized; as well as, packaging, sanitation requirements, federal and state regulations. The curriculum also includes the Tobacco and Trade Bureau (TTB) wine analytical chemical methods for quality assessment and wine marketing. Developing a pilot winery and well-equipped teaching labs while maintaining Cal Poly's learn-by-doing philosophy is our long-term goal. Additionally, enology students can gain industry experience via cooperative educational jobs and internships.
Viticulture Concentration
Professional positions within the grape and wine industry are now multi-dimensional, with winemakers and grape growers working together. To develop successful strategies, management teams must understand all aspects of wine. The viticulture concentration provides unique cross-training for our students, combining an understanding of vineyards, winemaking, and marketing; thus, preparing them for upper echelon management. Students will receive intensive training in all aspects of quality wine grape production. Topics will include but are not limited to site evaluation and development, pest management, and state-of-the-art cultural practices.
Wine Business Concentration
The wine business concentration focuses on specific issues unique to this industry. The wine industry requires substantial long-term capital commitments, is controlled by many levels of government, and is facing increasing domestic and global competition. The wine business concentration educates Wine and Viticulture students in operational, marketing, and strategic management, while providing knowledge of retail marketing laws and various regulatory constraints.
The Cluster
