Winery Management & Marketing Certificate

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The Program (HEGIS Code 5011)

The Winery Management and Marketing Certificate is comprised of 26-28 credits including five courses specific to winery operations:  Introduction to Winery Operations, Winery Management and Marketing, Wine Appreciation and Selection, Viticulture and Enology.  Electives in business, accounting, culinary, hospitality and hotel restaurant management, plus six credits of free electives allow students the flexibility to tailor coursework to fit their desired career path within the winery industry.  Graduates will be prepared for immediate employment in the wine making and marketing industry in Northern New York.  Students choosing to continue their education can apply the courses earned in the Certificate to meet the requirements of an associate of applied science (A.A.S.) degree in Hospitality and Tourism.

Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Winery Management and Marketing program with a certificate will meet the following learning outcomes:

• Understand how to develop an effective business model for a winery operation.
• Understand and apply the basic, legal, financial, human resource, ethics, and other management issues critical for successful winery operation.
• Understand the characteristics of successful grape varieties, site selection and layout for a vineyard in Northern New York.

Career Opportunities

The Winery Management and Marketing Certificate prepares students for careers in the wine production industry which is growing both in the North Country region and statewide.  The program was developed in response to workforce training needs expressed by the NNY Grape Growers Association and the Small Business Development Center.

Currently, seven wineries operate in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties and that number is expected to double in the next five years.

Winery owners report that the overwhelming number of jobs at any winery is in sales and marketing. Additionally, the NYS Fine Winery Bill signed into law in July 2011 allows farm wineries to open up to five off-site retail locations in New York State. With an average of six employees engaged in wine tasting, wholesale and retail activities per location, it is expected that up to 100 jobs could open in winery management in the next decade.

*Some CUL courses carry fewer than 3 credits and do not fill this requirement.

For More Information

Julie Purpura, Winery Program Coordinator
jpurpura@sunyjefferson.edu
315-786-2348

Alexander Pope Vickers, Hospitality and Tourism Department Chair
avickers@sunyjefferson.edu
315-786-2356

Application and Admissions Information
Office of Admissions
admissions@sunyjefferson.edu
315-786-2277 or Toll Free 1-888-435-6522