Costs, Dates, & Locations
How to Apply
The Curriculum
Download the Brochure
Refund Policy
WWP Updates Please notify me about upcoming wine education events.

Wine Trade Professional Certificate

Who is the Program For?

The CWU Wine Trade Professional Certificate Program will graduate individuals with strong wine business skills and global wine knowledge.

Graduates will be prepared for careers in winery and vineyard management, wine merchandising, wholesale, retail, distribution, marketing, import/export, consulting, hospitality and more.

The CWU Wine Trade Professional Certificate Program is designed for:

  • People seeking a profession in the wine industry
  • People currently in the wine industry to:
    • Improve business and marketing skills
    • Increase competitiveness

Program Benefits

Upon completion of the Wine Trade Professional Certificate Program, graduates will be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of:

  • The fundamentals of viticulture and winemaking.
  • Climate, soils, grape varieties, wines and regulations of the world's wine regions.
  • The costs and pricing structures of wine from grape growing through the marketplace.
  • Global trade structures in the wine industry.
  • Wine merchandising, brands, marketing, and public relations.
  • Professional tasting techniques for assessment and evaluation of wine.

The wine industry in the United States is expanding rapidly, with an economic input of $162 billion and accounts for 1.1 million jobs. In Washington state, the second largest wine producer in the United States, the wine industry accounts for more than 11,000 full-time jobs with another 4,600 estimated in the next few years. The Wine Trade Professional Certificate Program is designed to meet the needs of this growth by providing a comprehensive wine education.

What is the Wine Trade Professional Certificate Program?

The Wine Trade Professional Certificate Program is an intensive, professional development program that covers the fundamentals of viticulture and winemaking, but focuses on the business and trade aspects of wine.


2010 Costs, Dates, Locations

PROGRAM COST: $3,800.00

Because Global Wine Studies (GWS) courses are self-support, no tuition waiver programs apply. Tuition for GWS courses is higher than regular CWU tuition. Additional course fees may also apply.

Wine Trade Professional Certificate
On the CWU campus in Ellensburg

2010-2011 Schedule

Fundamentals of Viticulture and Enology GWS 302
Offered winter quarter

Major Wine Regions of the World GWS 303
Offered winter quarter

Wine Marketing and Branding GWS 304
Offered winter quarter

Professional Wine Analysis GWS 406
Offered winter quarter

Participants must be able to attend all sessions and will be expected to put in a considerable amount of time between sessions on projects and assignments.

Application Process
To apply, please call the World wine Program at (509) 963-1754 to receive a full application packet. Application deadline is November 30, 2010. Upon receipt you will have an in-person or phone interview to determine acceptance.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

CWU student charges will be posted to your CWU account. If you are not a CWU student, full payment must be received 20 days prior to the start date of the course. Payments may be made with a credit card by calling the CWU Office of Continuing Education at (509) 963-1504 or by check. If making payment by check, please make the check out to Central Washington University and mail to:

CWU World Wine Program
400 East University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7433.

For questions or more information, please contact us at (509) 963-1754 or email Amy Mumma at MummaA@cwu.edu.

Refund Policies
Refund policies of Central Washington University are consistent with Washington State requirements that state agencies may not provide services without charge unless specifically exempted by State laws. Once a student has been accepted as a participant in the CWU Wine Trade Professional Certificate Program, withdrawal from the program must be made in writing directly to the CWU Office of Continuing Education. Until official notice is received the student will be held responsible for all program fees.

Cancellations which occur more than 20 days in advance of the program start date are not subject to a cancellation fee. If a registration is cancelled 15-19 days prior to the start of the course, a cancellation fee of $150.00 will be charged.

If a course registration is cancelled less than fifteen days prior to the start of the course, or at any time after the start of the course, the full course fee will be charged. If an organization requests an invoice for a place on a course for one of its employees, and that employee, at any time subsequent to the invoice being raised, leaves the organization's employ, for whatever reason, the organization which requested the invoice remains liable to pay the full course fee.

Once a registration has been confirmed, any transfer to another applicant, will be assessed an administrative fee of $35.00.


Wine Trade Professional Certificate Program Curriculum

This program is an intensive, professional development program that covers the fundamentals of viticulture and winemaking, but focuses on the business of wine.

Viticulture

Origins and history of the vine, vine and grape structure and physiology, disease, pests and natural hazards, vineyard operations and calendar, soil and climate and major grape varieties of the world. Vineyard site selection, criteria, costs. Clones, hybrids, rootstocks, grafting. Fertilizers, pest management, canopy management, sustainable viticulture.

Winemaking

Grape constituents, making red, white and rosé wines, techniques for sparkling and fortified wines. Extraction and fermentation issues, managing alcohol levels, clarification, stabilization, maturation and blending, bottling, packaging.

Major Wine Regions and Styles

Grape varieties, regulations, history, culture and traditions. France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Central and Southern Europe, USA, Australia, New Zealand, South America, South Africa.

Wine Evaluation

Professional wine evaluation based on visual and organoleptic properties. Comparison and analysis of world wine regions. Assessment of quality in relation to commercial position.

Wine Business and Marketing

Legalities and regulations, distribution, shipping, reciprocity. Worldwide acreage, production and consumption. Wine market cycles, costs involved in producing a bottle of wine, wine price points, profitability, grape and supply contracts, TTB regulations and taxation.

Identification, research, target markets, wine merchandising, establishment and support of wine brands, advertising, promotions, discounts, journalism and ratings, tourism, consumer education, public relations, working with the media, consumer behavior.


How to Apply

To request an application, please call the CWU Office of Continuing Education at (509) 963-1504 or email Amy Mumma at MummaA@cwu.edu.

The application consists of personal information along with a short essay of your reasons and goals for participating in the Wine Trade Professional Certificate program. Successful applicants need to have adequate writing skills and a high degree of personal motivation as the program requires substantial time outside of class. Participants will be expected to purchase, with their own funds, additional wines for tasting and evaluation outside of those tasted in class.

Contact Information

World Wine Program
400 E. University Way
Bouillon 206
Ellensburg, WA 98926
(509) 963-1754
Email: mummaa@cwu.edu
CWU Web Standards
Optimized for Newer Browsers
Go back to Central's main page