Viticulture for Winemakers

All winemakers and winery owners know that great winemaking begins in the vineyard. This course is designed for winemakers to review how basic viticulture relates to wine production and wine quality. Learn the science behind how wine grapes are grown and study the biological, environmental and managerial factors that influence fruit quality. During the course, you will develop a hypothetical vineyard to meet specific winemaking objectives. Course topics include the importance of quality plant material, soils and cover crops, grapevine diseases and pests, vineyard development and vine nutrition. By the end of the course, you will have an understanding of growing season influences and practices, vineyard design and economic analysis.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand basic botany and vine physiology and how it relates to fruit production, winemaking and wine quality
• Recognize the seasonal vine growing cycle and environmental and management factors that influence grape quality
• Compare management practices and their impact on vineyards and fruit quality while incorporating economic input

Skills You Will Gain

• Wine grape botany and physiology
• Irrigation concepts and goals
• Vineyard design