While focusing on procedures used in smaller vineyards and wineries, you'll delve into three main areas:

  1. Viticulture

    • Learn in detail about grapes and how they grow.
    • Visit top growers to observe vineyard practices.
    • Gain hands-on experience practicing key grape-growing techniques in real vineyards.
    • Taste wines that demonstrate the effects of vineyard practices on wine quality.
    • Enjoy a winemaker's dinner at a winery.
    • Study the effects of climate and terroir on grape and wine flavors.

  2. Enology

    • Train for and practice the sensory evaluation of wines, identifying positive and negative attributes and learning how these flavors develop in wines.
    • Investigate the general steps in the winemaking process and deepen this knowledge through discussions with Finger Lakes winemakers.
    • Learn about the importance of microbiology to winemaking.
    • Practice yeast and bacteria inoculation techniques to start fermentations.
    • Experience the flavor perception effects of interactions between foods and wines.
    • Practice blending wines to create the best possible final product.
    • Evaluate wines chosen to demonstrate outcomes of scientific enology principles discussed in lectures.

  3. Business

    • Attend a luncheon business seminar on starting a wine business. Speakers will include a Cornell economics faculty member and winery owners, and there will be ample time for questions.