Master of Science in Business: Wine Business Leadership
Establish yourself as a leader in Oregon’s thriving wine industry
Embark on a one-of-a-kind academic journey by earning your Master of Science (M.S.) in Business with a Wine Business Leadership specialization at Linfield University. Through the collaboration of our School of Business and the Center for Wine Education, this graduate program delivers quality instruction, real-world learning opportunities and faculty mentorship that cultivates your growth.
Created for ambitious professionals ready to make an impact, the master’s degree program blends advanced business strategies with the niche expertise needed to excel in the wine industry. From managing public relations to financial forecasting, you gain a firm understanding of core business tenets and their unique application to producing, selling and distributing wine.
Our wine business graduate program utilizes a full-time, cohort-based format, which means you and your classmates follow an integrated sequence of courses until graduation. In just 12 months, you can earn your master’s degree and break into a thriving industry.
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Program features
Hands-on learning
Put theory into practice
Accelerated learning
Earn your degree in as little as 12 months
Affordable tuition
$1,070 per semester credit
Scholarships available
Why earn your master’s in wine business leadership at Linfield University?
Gain real-world experience in the global wine industry
At Linfield, we strive to prepare you for an increasingly competitive and globalized marketplace. Our master’s degree in business culminates with a capstone project that contains two transformative experiences. First, you participate in a remote consulting project with an international wine organization, delivering strategic recommendations that demonstrate your expertise.
The second component is our signature "City Challenge," which immerses you in an intensive week-long international experience. During this experience, you collaborate with peers across business tracks to solve real-world challenges for clients and provide actionable insights and solutions. This dual approach ensures you graduate with hands-on consulting experience and a proven ability to return results in diverse international markets.
Strengthen your expertise through electives
To incorporate a range of immersive learning experiences, we integrate a selection of specialized electives into the wine business program curriculum; however, you must select one workshop that most aligns with your interests. These sessions foster a collaborative and interactive atmosphere where you can explore relevant topics, such as:
- Creating a Wine Brand and Wine Company
- Hospitality, Tasting Room and Wine Club Management
- Wine Law & Compliance
- Wine Sustainability
Fund your master’s degree with a graduate fellowship — receive up to $5,000
At Linfield, we believe education can help you chart a new course and strive to reduce financial barriers. That’s why we proudly offer the Master’s in Business Graduate Fellowship, which awards up to $5,000 to qualified recipients to lower their educational costs. To be considered for this scholarship opportunity, you must submit an application and a fellowship statement, detailing your academic and professional interests, your strengths, and more.
Please apply for admission to the business program by April 15 for priority consideration. However, if you apply for acceptance after this deadline, our admissions committee will still consider your application.
Master’s in Wine Business Leadership program curriculum
Linfield’s master’s in wine business leadership track delivers a well-rounded business education that equips you with cutting-edge industry expertise and practical skills. Our curriculum consists of 40 credits of coursework divided into three segments: generalized business classes, specialized wine leadership courses and workshop courses.
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Business courses The generalized business coursework explores how to grow as an innovative leader through a theoretical framework and provides practical tools for effective management as you navigate risk challenges, build a team and increase productivity.
Learn about ethical challenges you may encounter in the field and how to work through these issues at every organizational level. Additionally, you grow in your ability to assess business performance and make strategic decisions within your organization’s units, such as marketing, human resources, finance and more.
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Wine business courses In your wine-focused classes, you study how to create and execute a profitable plan for producing wines, including timing, costs, and procurement of production materials and supplies; volume forecasting for winery operations; and legal compliance and financial considerations.
You also explore the domestic and international wine sales process. Within this course, you gain experience in developing sales plans, forecasting and budgeting. The curriculum also offers a deep dive into creating effective marketing and public relations strategies to expand brand awareness and impact the consumers’ perception of the product and company.
Learn from business and wine experts
At Linfield, you learn from the best. Our School of Business faculty offers years of professional experience, industry expertise and personalized support inside and outside the classroom. Informed by their wealth of knowledge, your understanding of the business world deepens so you can lead with innovation and impact.
Meet our School of Business faculty
Wine business job outlook
In recent decades, the domestic wine industry has steadily expanded, cultivating a thriving job market. The number of wineries in the U.S. has grown four and a half times over the past 20 years, with California, Washington and Oregon leading the way. This uptick in wineries creates more career opportunities for you and other ambitious professionals.
Earning a master’s in business equips you with a solid understanding of effective business strategies related to the wine sector and robust communication and creative problem-solving skills. With these competencies, you can tackle the following roles and many others in the wine industry:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Events manager
- General manager
- Hospitality director
- Marketing manager
- Sales manager
- Wine club sales director
Meet our aspiring business leaders
2024-25 M.S. in Business Cohort
Introducing Linfield University's 2024-25 Master of Science in business cohort. Now offering three unique concentrations, this one-year program is designed for anyone ready to pursue roles in leadership.
Wildcat pride and a Warrior spirit
View a photo essay detailing Divenson's journey from Haiti to graduation from Linfield University.
2023-24 M.S. in Business Cohort
Introducing Linfield University's 2023-24 Master of Science in business cohort. Now offering three unique concentrations, this one-year program is designed for anyone ready to pursue roles in leadership.
2022-23 M.S. in Business Cohort
We are pleased to introduce our 2022-23 Master of Science in business cohort! Now in its second year, this one-year program offers three tracks – design innovation, sport leadership and wine business leadership. It is designed for anyone ready to pursue roles in leadership.
Transfer Student to Softball Star
As she reflects on her time as a Wildcat, Baily Paul '22 is only more certain that Linfield was the right university for her. "I discovered so many pathways, I have amazing memories and amazing people by my side. There were some long days, but it's been so worth it," she said.
Meet the Inaugural Class of Linfield's Master of Science in Business
The carefully crafted Master of Science in business is a one-year program with two tracks - design innovation and sport leadership - designed for anyone wanting to pursue roles in leadership, regardless of undergraduate studies. We are pleased to introduce our first cohort of students!
Master’s in wine business leadership program admissions
Begin your journey to studying at Linfield University. Learn more about the admission process and requirements for the wine business master’s degree program.
Tuition and financial aid
When you pursue graduate education, you can chart a new professional course. At Linfield, we remain proactive in improving access to higher education by offering competitive tuition rates and generous financial assistance resources.
Build a career that you love — earn your master’s in wine business leadership degree
Immerse yourself in the dynamic world of wine by pursuing your Master of Science in Business with a Wine Business Leadership concentration at Linfield University. Refine your strategic expertise and strengthen your professional skills through hands-on learning.
Take the next step toward advancing your education by applying to Linfield today.
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