Winery Tasting Room Associate

Upon successful completion of the Winery Tasting Room Associate certificate, the student will demonstrate basic skills and knowledge to gain employment in a winery tasting room. Areas of focus are customer service, managing groups, direct sales techniques and use of Point of Sales systems, inventory and promotions. In addition, the wine core classes give students a thorough understanding of winemaking procedures, principles of wine tasting and analysis, computer programs used in wineries, and knowledge of wines produced locally, regionally, and internationally. This certificate may be stacked to complete the Winery Event Coordinator certificate or Winery Sales and Marketing certificate.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of wine making practices of major wine regions and the evaluation of these wines.
2. Demonstrate the skills and knowledge of basic winery tasting room operations.
3. Describe the importance of the Direct to Consumer sales generated from the tasting room and various sales techniques in relationship to the overall winery's financial goals.

I estimate that 18-24 students will complete this program.

CTE (Limited to programs in CTE codes other that ADTs) (C)

The goal of the Tasting Room Associate Certificate is to prepare students for the ever-growing Wine industry job market, specifically for Winery Retail/Hospitality operations. This would include Winery Tasting Rooms and Direct to Consumer Sales. Focus will be placed on essential hands-on skills building in basic viticulture, basic wine knowledge, expectations of employers, customer service, Point of Sale system operation and sales techniques. These skills would prepare the student for entry level employment as a tasting room associate with potential for upward growth to the position of Tasting Room Supervisor or Manager as well as Winery Sales positions.

Program Objectives

1. Explain the winemaking process for Sparkling, White, Red and Fortified Wine.
   
2. Describe the flavor impact of major steps in the winemaking process.
   
3. Compare and contrast the principal winegrowing regions of California and Europe.
   
4. Demonstrate the nine principles of customer service.
   
5. Describe the importance the role the tasting room has in the success of a winery.
   
6. Create a consumer direct sales and marketing plan.
   
7. Demonstrate the ability to use digital media resources effectively in tasting room and winery operations.
   

Core Requirements

Complete 19 - 22.5 units

BUS 94F Customer Service Strategies 1

COM ST 8 Small Group Communication 3

CUL ART 31 Introduction to Viticulture, Winemaking, Wines of the World 3

CUL ART 32 Sensory Evaluation of Wine 2

CUL ART 85 Wine Regions of California 1.5

CUL ART 86A Introduction to Wines of the Old World - Europe 1.5 - 2

CUL ART 87 Direct to Consumer Wine Sales 1.5

CUL ART 88 Wine Tasting Room Operations 1.5

CUL ART 93V Work Experience:Culinary Arts 1 - 4

GRART 1A Digital Imaging I 3

Minimum Units Required: 19.00 - 22.50