Winemaking Certificate Program Course Numbers & Descriptions
- AG 5030: INTRODUCTION TO WINE PRODUCTION (21 HRS)
- Provides an overview of commercial wine production. Starting with an overview of wine grape production, students learn the distinction between white, rosé, and red wine production, as well as the methods for making sparkling, fortified, and dessert wines. Winery operations and terminology from harvest through packaging are introduced, including the importance of sanitation as an integral part of the process.
- Dates: Spring 2020
- Cost: $750
- Registration to open soon
- AG 5031: SENSORY EVALUATION (28 HOURS)
- Introduces sensory evaluation of wine including techniques, identification of traits, and hedonistic wine descriptors. Students are required to attend a weekend on-campus seminar. Students must be at least 21 years of age to participate in wine evaluation.
- Dates: Spring 2020
- Cost: $800
- Registration to open soon
- AG 5032: HARVEST WINERY EQUIPMENT (14 HOURS)
- This course provides an opportunity to set up and operate equipment found in a typical regional winery, including pumps, filters, press pad and other processing equipment. Proper sanitation procedures will be included. This requires a weekend at a regional winery.
- Dates: September 23–October 13, 2019
Weekend Equipment Seminar on September 28 for SE PA & October 5 for NW PA
Cost: $750 - Register for: Harvest Winery Equipment
- AG 5033: FERMENTATION (21 HOURS)
- The focus of this course is on the harvest process and fermentation techniques. Crush pad operations, alcohol and malo-lactic fermentations, and aging regimes that include barrel, oak alternatives, and sur lies are covered.
- Dates: Spring 2020
- Cost: $750
- Registration to open soon
- AG 5034: WINE CHEMISTRY (28 HOURS)
- Students learn the basic chemical composition of grapes, must, and wine. Wine quality parameters and corrective measures are introduced. Students learn laboratory methods to measure wine quality and stability.
- Dates: October 28–December 18, 2019 online + Wednesday Zoom Discussions (7:00–8:00 p.m.)
Weekend seminar at Penn State Berks on November 29 (7:00–9:00 p.m.), November 30 (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.) and December 1 (9:00 a.m.–noon)
Cost: $800 (tuition + lab fee) - Register for: Wine Chemistry
- AG 5035: FINING, FILTRATION & BOTTLING (21 HOURS)
- The course provides an in-depth look at clarification, stabilization, and packaging processes found in the winery. Topics include common fining agents, their use, and applications; filtration systems and media; and packaging options, including pouches, bottles, and kegs.
- Dates: August 26–October 16, 2019 online + Wednesday Zoom Discussions (7:00–8:00 p.m.)
Cost: $750 - Register for: Fining, Filtration & Bottling
- AG 5036: WINERY REGULATIONS (21 HOURS)
- This course introduces federal and state requirements for record-keeping and reporting in a commercial winery, from harvest through sales. Students learn about regulations governing wineries and retail outlets, including record-keeping, periodic reporting of operations, excise tax filing, and labeling laws.
- Dates: Summer 2020
- Cost: $750
- Registration to open soon
- AG 5037: WINERY SANITATION (21 HOURS)
- Provides an overview of the importance of sanitation in the winery and an introduction to basic sanitation procedures. The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) will be introduced as the model for ensuring that sanitary procedures will be followed in the winery.
- Dates: October 28–December 18, 2019 online + Thursday Zoom Discussions (7:00–8:00 p.m.)
- Cost: $750
- Register for: Winery Sanitation
- AG 5038: JUICE AND WINE HANDLING EQUIPMENT (14 HOURS)
- This course provides an opportunity to set up and operate equipment found in a typical regional winery, focusing on equipment used for final filtration, bottling, and labeling. Proper sanitation procedures will be included.
- Dates: Spring 2020
- Cost: $750
- Registration to open soon