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Wine Studies

Emma Anderson showing her hands covered in crushed grapes.

Major or Minor in

Wine Studies

Linfield University is the only private liberal arts university in the nation offering both undergraduate and graduate wine programs within its School of Business. Our curriculum empowers you with the essential knowledge and skills for a thriving career in the global wine industry, blending business acumen with an understanding of wine production, culture, and its economic significance. You'll explore wine's impact both locally and internationally, gaining hands-on experience in wine business and management. Whether you're aiming for further academic pursuits or a professional path in the wine industry, our program positions you for success.
Visit the Center for Wine Education

As a wine studies major at Linfield

you might take:

The Geography of Wine

Explore how place plays a significant role in the production and consumption of wine. (WINE 101)

Introduction to Viticulture

Understand the science behind vineyard management and how grapes are grown. (WINE 211)

Introduction to Wine Making

Learn the basics of wine production, grape varieties, wine styles, and the influence of climate and soil. (WINE 212)

Studying wine at Linfield

Beyond the classroom

  • Learn firsthand through regular field trips to visit our world-renowned local wineries and vineyards.

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  • You'll graduate with relevant work experience on your resumé from an internship with a winery or wine business in the Willamette Valley or the region of your choice.

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  • Join the Wildcat Wine Club! Create connections through student-guided wine tastings, additional field trips, and the opportunity to meet and learn from leaders of the wine industry from around the nation.

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  • Experience terroir around the world by studying abroad! Take a semester, spend a January Term or enroll in our fifth-year master's program and learn in three countries during your senior and graduate year. 

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  • We have work study opportunities that help you cultivate skills in event planning, promotions and social media, and business.

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WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH AN WINE STUDIES DEGREE FROM LINFIELD

You will leave prepared for a career in areas such as:

  • Hospitality: start in the tasting room or wine club. Move on to direct to consumer representative, and ultimately, on to winery hospitality manager.
  • Viticulture and oenology: work in a winery lab, vineyard or cellar. Become a vineyard manager, winemaker or oversee labs in the industry.
  • Marketing: combine wine studies with other skills to become a social media manager, brand manager, or marketing manager for a winery, or work in marketing or graphic design with a marketing firm that specializes in the wine business.
  • Sales: winery sales associate, distributor with a restaurant, retail or national account portfolio, and on to a role in sales management.
  • Supply chain: logistics, shipping, warehousing, purchasing and delivering from grapes to table, an area that needs much more attention in the industry.