Courses of Study 2023-2024
Viticulture and Enology
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In the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences .
Course Offerings
Overview
Viticulture & Enology are the scientific studies of grape growing and winemaking, respectively. Cornell’s Viticulture and Enology major (V&E) is creating the next generation of leaders in the wine industry and allied fields like brewing and distillation. VIEN majors are exposed to all aspects of the food system – from growing the raw material (fruit), to transforming it into a high value product (wine), to its eventual sale to a customer. Individuals with strong backgrounds in these areas have no shortage of opportunities across the United States and the globe following graduation.
In their first two years, students are given a strong foundation in chemical and biological sciences in addition to introductory courses on wines and grapes. In their last two years, students can use this knoeldge base to choose among specialized elective courses in enology and viticulture. The flexibility of the Viticulture and Enology major readily allows students to take courses or minor in complementary fields, e.g. business, plant sciences, or food sciences.
Most V&E majors take advantage of study abroad and internship programs in their 3rd or 4th years. Our students study and work around the globe, including California, Washington State, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, and France. The major is also closely linked with the New York State wine and grape industries, and to an extensive professional and alumni network.
Special highlights of this major include:
- A uniquely cool, world-class education: We are the only 4-year wine and grape program in the United States east of the Rockies or in a cool climate, and the only one at an Ivy League university.
- Facilities: Classrooms include our state-of-the-art teaching winery, brewery and distillery and a teaching vineyard right on campus.
- Know your professors: The small size of the major puts students and professors on a first name basis, and classes emphasize hands-on learning.
- Broad opportunities in specialty products: Prepare for a career in winemaking, grape growing, brewing, cidermaking, and distillation, or use your degree as a springboard for opportunities in business, education or research.
- Internships and study abroad: Enology classes in Australia? Vineyard work in California? Marketing internship in Burgundy? Choose from dozens of options, both international and close to home.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate broad proficiency in oral and written communication skills.
- Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and synthesize existing knowledge in enology and viticulture.
- Attain detailed knowledge of chemosensory and health-related compounds in wine and grapes.
- Possess both practical and conceptual knowledge of wine microbiology and modern winemaking technologies, especially in reqlationship to sustainability.
- Demonstrate knowledge of modern viticultural practices and why they are relevant to wine production.
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Faculty
K. Arnink, Dir. of Undergraduate Studies, 152C Stocking Hall, kja1@cornell.edu; D. Bershaw, R. D’Aversa, P. Gibney, G. Sacks, J. Vanden Heuvel.
The Major
The Major
- In addition to the major requirements indicated below, students are expected to complete the college graduation requirements.
- Additional Information:
- All coursework for this major is in person, in Ithaca, unless otherwise noted.
- No prerequisite courses are necessary before declaring the Viticulture and Enology major.
- All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade, except when not an option.
- A grade of C- or better must be earned to meet major requirements.
- Both lecture and laboratory section must be taken for major elective credit. Students taking only the lecture will not receive credit for the course towards completion of the major.
- Core requirements minimum is 54 credits.
- Minimum elective requirements is 17 credits, of which at least 5 credits must be VIEN courses.
Physical Sciences Core Courses
Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Statistics
- Introductory Statistics course (Select one)
Plant Science
Viticulture and Enology Core Courses
Major Electives (Minimum 15 credits; at least 5 of which MUST be VIEN courses)
Electives with Enology Focus:
Electives with Viticulture Focus:
Other elective options:
The Minor
- To declare a minor, students should contact the Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Garrett Downing (gmd83@cornell.edu)
- A Viticulture and Enology minor requires a minimum of 14 credit hours from the coursework outlined below.
Prerequisites:
- One college-level course in introductory biology
- One college-level course in general chemistry
Required Introductory Core Courses (8 credits):
Additional course options:
A minimum of 6 credits chosen from the following courses must be completed.
Facilities
The V&E program maintains extensive vineyard and winery facilities, ensuring a year-round hands-on experience for our students. The program’s vineyards include more than 30 wine and table grape cultivars, including native American grapes, French-American hybrid grapes, and many of the major European vinifera grapes. During the fall harvest, students transform these grapes into wine at the Stocking Hall teaching winery, located on the Ithaca campus. In the Spring, students taste their wines to determine if they need further adjustment or are ready for bottling – or they can learn the fundamentals of making other alcoholic beverages (beer, distilled spirits, cider) through upper-level elective courses. Most classes have fewer than 25 students, providing ample opportunities for student/faculty interactions. Undergraduates are often involved in faculty research and outreach programs, and guest speakers and field trips are an integral part of the curriculum.
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