Chemeketa Community College
Salem, Oregon
Chemeketa Community College’s Wine Studies Program
The Wine Studies program offers a hands-on program focusing on all aspects of wine from grape to glass to tasting room. Our own on-site, 8-acre vineyard and winery provide students an opportunity to learn the depth and breadth of vineyard management and winemaking, from growing the grape to harvesting, chemistry, production, and selling the wine. The Wine Studies program is located at the Northwest Wine Studies Center, which is a leading wine industry resource emphasizing strong alliances with the Northwest wine industry. It is also home to the Chemeketa Cellars tasting room.
WINE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
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. 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, tasting room manager, or something in between – opportunities abound throughout the state’s wine industry.
FACILITIES
The Northwest Wine Studies Center is a leading wine industry resource that provides continuing education and degree programs in all aspects of wine, from grape to glass. The center emphasizes strong alliances with the Northwest wine industry, associated educational institutions, and the community. The Center is located in Salem, Oregon, on the Eola campus of Chemeketa Community College. Salem is the state capital and is centrally located in the middle of state’s largest AVA, the Willamette Valley.
The Northwest Wine Studies Center is the home of Chemeketa Cellars, the student-run winery of the Wine Studies program at Chemeketa Community College. The Center houses the tasting room for Chemeketa Cellars, and is open to the public for tours, tasting and wine sales. When the Center is not in use for educational purposes, the contemporary design and majestic views make its conference space a popular private event venue.
COURSES
Chemeketa’s Wine Studies program will teach you the skills for a number of different careers in the wine industry, from managing the growth and production of wine grapes to turning the grapes into wine to managing a tasting room and winery events.
Classes cover a variety of topics including seasonal vineyard practices, vine physiology and general viticulture practices, wine tasting and components, wine chemistry, microbiology and production, and wine sales. The winemaking and vineyard management degree programs also include a 6 or 9 credit internship component.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
All Wine Studies scholarships are run through the Chemeketa Foundation. Applications for Foundation Scholarships are available January 1 and will be accepted through the end of February on a yearly basis. View all scholarships here: https://www.chemeketa.edu/cost-aid/scholarships/
Wine-Specific Scholarships
- AL MACDONALD/LIVE WINE STUDIES SCHOLARSHIP: This scholarship supports part-time, first-generation college students who are ineligible for federal financial aid entering the Wine Studies program at Chemeketa. The scholarship is named after retired former Wine Studies faculty member Al MacDonald for his commitment to the program and the wine industry.
- BETTY O’BRIEN WINE MARKETING SCHOLARSHIP: Willamette Valley Vineyards established this scholarship in honor of Betty’s substantial contributions to the wine industry.
- JACKSON FAMILY WINES SCHOLARSHIP: Established by Jackson Family Wines to support students enrolled part or full-time in the Wine Studies Programs carrying a 3.0 GPA.
Erath Scholarship
- The Chemeketa Community College Erath Matching Viticulture Scholarship is available for employees of Oregon winery/vineyards. The Erath Family Foundation (EFF) established this scholarship to increase the number of personnel in leadership roles who have a fundamental education in viticulture along with a working command of the English language. Through a generous donation by EFF, wineries can support and encourage their employees to attend Chemeketa Community College and receive up to $2,000 per academic year in matching funds.
- Contact the Wine Studies program for an application form.
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CERTIFICATE & DEGREE PROGRAMS
- Vineyard Operations Certificate
- Wine Hospitality Operations Certificate
- AAS in Winemaking
- AAS in Vineyard Management
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