Professional Studies and COVID-19

Cornell University and the School of Continuing Education (SCE) are working with health officials to monitor the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Administrative Management Institute and the Cornell University Viticulture & Enology Experience have been postponed until 2021.

For information, see Cornell's coronavirus website or contact us.

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.