Viticulture and Enology studies | Here are 6 things you should know!

Cultivating grapes and brewing wine for a living may sound like a breeze. But the truth is that you need to have a deep understanding of the complex process of winemaking to make a living out of it. Several colleges around the world are now offering courses in Viticulture and Enology to educate aspirants in the craft and provide them with unmatched opportunities. This blog will tell you everything you need to know about the course, top universities, and the application requirements for studying Viticulture and Enology abroad. So let’s get started! 

What are Viticulture and Enology?

Viticulture

A branch of Horticulture (the art of growing plants), Viticulture focuses on wine growing. The science involves learning about fertilization, irrigation, controlling pests and diseases, canopy management, monitoring fruit development and characteristics, and harvesting. Verticulturists also work closely with winemakers, as their cultivation techniques strongly affect how the wine will taste.

Oenology

Oenology, or Enology, refers to the study of wine and winemaking. The duties of an Enologist can range from conducting wine analysis, monitoring quality control parameters, conducting field or wine trials, assisting fellow winemakers, and training additional employees.  

Top colleges for studying Viticulture and Enology

A rapidly growing requirement for qualified leaders in the wine industry has led institutions across the globe to offer in-depth courses and majors in Viticulture and Enology. Here are some of the top colleges you should consider studying in-

1. Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy
2. Università di Torino, Italy
3. The University of Adelaide, Australia
4. Hochschule Geisenheim University, Germany
5. Cornell, USA
6. University of Nova Gorica, Italy
7. UC Davis, USA
8. Texas Tech University, USA
9. Oregon State University, USA
10. Charles Sturt University, Australia
11. Brock University, Canada
12. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
13. University of Bordeaux, France
14. Lincoln University, New Zealand
15. Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Spain

What subjects will I learn?

Studying Viticulture and Enology requires you to have a thorough understanding of the natural sciences. This is why most universities offer it as a major for undergraduate students. And those who want to specialize in the field can go on to pursue a master’s degree.

Here are some of the topics you may come across as a Viticulture and Enology student-

1. Introduction to vines and wines
2. Principles and practices of growing grapes and making wine
3. Current issues in vineyard health
4. Pest management
5. Wine composition and analysis
6. Vineyard management
7. Flavor chemistry
8. Wine fermentations
9. Winemaking theory and practice
10. Distillation
11. Production labs
12. Wine chemistry and stability
13. Harvesting decisions
14. Home winemaking
15. Small vineyard management
16. Vineyard irrigation
17. Wine filtration
18. Wine microbiology
19. Color and tannin measurement 
20. Grapefruit composition

Many of the programs will also give you the opportunity to learn and practice your learnings through an internship abroad. So you will also get to learn new languages, like Italian, French, and Spanish!

How much will it cost?

The amount will change depending on which country and university you choose to study in. But for the universities listed above, the cost of studying Viticulture and Enology ranges from around 40,000 USD to about 70,000 USD.  And that’s just the tuition fees. Your additional expenses will include the cost of living, food, transport, entertainment, and a few other daily spendings.

To offset your fee and living costs, you can always work part-time, get a teaching assistantship, or apply for a scholarship. This will help you a long way when it comes to funding your education abroad.

What are the application requirements?

After you’ve shortlisted the universities you want to apply to, you will have to go through their websites and find the admission requirements. However, a few requirements are common across all universities.

For undergraduate students-

Undergrads looking to major in Viticulture and Enology must have studied the basics of Biology, Chemistry, Plant Science, and in some cases, Mathematics. 

For graduate aspirants-

Bachelor of Science degree in Viticulture and/or Enology, Agricultural Chemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Plant Science, or a related area from an accredited institution. Students are expected to have studied basic Biology, Chemistry, Plant Science, Mathematics, and Viticulture and Enology.

Transcripts

Statement of Purpose

3 Letters of Recommendation

CV

GRE scores

Proof of language proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE test scores)

I suggest you start preparing these documents 6 months before you have to apply. After you submit your application, it is time to wait. If shortlisted, you will receive a letter of acceptance, which you can then use to apply for a student visa (and even a scholarship)!

Key takeaways

• Viticulture is the craft of growing vines, whereas Enology is the study of wine and winemaking.
• Several colleges offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Viticulture, Enology, and Viticulture and Enology. The top 10 have been listed in this blog.
• These programs cover everything, from growing grapes and vineyard and pest management to wine chemistry, color measurement, and wine tasting.
• The cost of studying Viticulture and Enology ranges from 40,000 USD to 70,000 USD.
• You will have to go through their websites and find out about ALL the admission requirements.

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FAQs

Q1. How do I study Enology?

Ans – First, check if the undergraduate institution allows you to major in Enology. If it does, fulfill the major requirements and apply to pursue it at your college. You can also choose to pursue a Master’s degree in Enology later in your career.

Q2. What is the scientific study of grapes called?

Ans –Viticulture, derived from the Latin word for Vine, is the science of cultivating and harvesting grapes.

Q3. Where can I study Viticulture in Australia?

Ans –You can study Viticulture at the following universities in Australia-

1. The Australian Wine Research Institute
2. The University of Adelaide
3. Charles Sturt University, and more!