If you love wine and have always wanted to be in the wine business, this exciting, information-packed course is for you. You’ll experience sensational in-depth wine tastings with our renowned wine instructors and talented Napa Valley winemakers, and get the inside scoop about what goes on in the wine business. You’ll build your wine knowledge and explore many aspects of this fascinating field. And you will:

• Taste and evaluate wines as professionals do.


• Explore a Napa Valley vineyard and learn how viticultural techniques shape a wine’s flavor.


• Tour a working Napa Valley winery to taste and discuss current winemaking techniques.


• Analyze the philosophies behind successful wine and food pairing, and participate in tastings to illustrate such pairings.


• Visit a wine retail merchant and discover how the business of wine works, including wholesale and retail price structuring, basic media and promotional concepts, and wine’s path from the vineyard to the table.


• Understand proper wine service and etiquette.

Dress code: The dress code for this course is business casual. Blue jeans, shorts, tank tops, and open-toed sandals are not permitted. When visiting vineyards and wineries, sturdy, flat-soled shoes are required. Please refrain from wearing strong fragrances or cologne, as they will interfere with your learning experience as well as that of your fellow students. Additional items such as sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats are suggested during the summer months as well as warm jackets during winter months.

Please note: this class is open to students 21 years and older.