Is a wine tasting class the same as a wine education course? At SDSU, our wine classes combine wine tasting and wine education. The wine certification program is a combination of lecture, reading, and tasting – a holistic approach to wine. If you're considering taking sommelier classes, our Professional Certificate in the Business of Wine program prepares you for the Sommelier certification exam and helps you train for success in wine-related occupations. Learn about the wine business in a series of informative and engaging wine education classes.
After two remarkable decades, we're concluding the Business of Wine program after summer 2024. The program's impact on the industry and our global student community fills us with pride. We extend heartfelt thanks to our community for their invaluable contributions.
Looking ahead, we encourage existing students to reach out and plan their path to completing the program and earning their certificates. Although new students won't be able to finish the program, they can still enjoy classes and explore the world of wine with our instructors over the next few months. We will continue to offer courses through the summer 2024 term.
Our gratitude to everyone who played a role in making this program a success. Join us in savoring the final courses and toasting to the rich legacy of our shared vinous journey.
Spring Courses Now Available
SDSU Global Campus is committed to keeping our community safe. Click here to view the latest COVID-19 guidelines.
Increase your business skills and wine literacy in one of California’s most popular industries with a wine education course from SDSU Global Campus.
About the Program
Celebrating 20 years of wine education in 2024, SDSU has offered professional-level wine education taught by wine professionals. Instructors guide every learner from beginner to advanced levels on wine varietals, regions, business courses, pairing lessons, and viticulture.
Designed with the help of career wine professionals from all over California, SDSU’s Business of Wine courses can help you prepare for a career in many different areas of the wine industry. We offer a mix of in-person, online, and off-site courses that cover foundational level wine knowledge, specific wine regions, winemaking, hospitality, marketing, and business acumen, adapting to the evolving industry landscape.
Meet Your Instructors
Whether you’re an aspiring wine business owner, Sommelier, or hospitality professional, earning your wine certificate from SDSU Global Campus can build your network, teach you essential business skills, and move forward without putting your career on hold.
Meet Our Alumni
While stationed in Oceanside, I began searching online for wine courses near me. The program at SDSU appealed to me because of the topics and scheduling. It was ideal for working people like me, so I could attend when it was convenient for me. Plus, I could take the classes that were most applicable to me, which helped build my business plan once I started down that path."
— Melani Harding, Owner, Bon Niche Cellars
Is This Program Right for Me?
Program Alumni Discount
If you’ve already completed your Certificate in the Business of Wine, you’re eligible to enroll in additional courses at a 10% discount. Please email registration at enrollment.global@sdsu.edu or call to apply a program alumni discount for 10% off the registration fee.
SDSU Alumni Lifetime Member Discount
If you're an SDSU Alumni lifetime member, you're eligible for a 20% discount on registration for courses in this program. Click here to learn more.
Discounts are not retroactive and cannot be combined. Only one discount can be applied.
These comprehensive wine education classes are geared for professionals and entrepreneurs in the wine, food, and hospitality fields who want to quickly expand their knowledge of wine topics. Our current and past students include:
- Restaurant owners and staff
- Winery employees
- Event planners
- Distribution and retail sales employees
- Wine bar owners and staff
- Anyone interested in a career in wine or hospitality
- Wine enthusiasts who want to learn in an academic setting
Graduates of the program include owners of local wine bars and bottle shops, wine import/export business owners, buyers for upscale grocery stores, and vintners at local wine vineyards. Our wine classes can also prepare you for the Introductory Sommelier Certificate Exam from the Court of Master Sommeliers.
What Can I Learn?
Whether you’re interested in launching your career in the wine or hospitality industry, you want to educate yourself about regions you are passionate about, or discover new wine regions, our Business of Wine Program will help you:
- Learn skills necessary to enter the ever-changing wine industry
- Experience interactive, hands-on learning with tastings and more
- Engage with top leaders and industry experts in the classroom
- Uncover an overall appreciation of wine outside of fermentation
- Explore wine’s past and present while looking toward the future
- Boost your wine literacy and become an ambassador for wine
- Build industry connections and network within San Diego’s growing wine community
Meet Our Alumni
The subject matter was intriguing and interesting and with the electives, you got to pick which regions of the world were most important to learn. The hardest part was choosing the ones you wanted to take, because for me, they all seemed like something I wanted to learn about.”
— Al Fischer
You must be at least 21 years of age to register for courses in the wine certificate program.
Career Outcomes
Labor Analysis
Wine Industry — Nationwide
499,400
10-Year outlook total current jobs
12%
Projected job growth over 10 years
$88,310
Average salary
Why Should You Choose Us?
Location
Home to dozens of wineries and within a few hours' drive of many of the best vineyards in the world, San Diego and the surrounding region is a historic and rapidly-growing wine hotspot. SDSU Global Campus is well-positioned to tap into the booming local wine industry and provide access to leaders in the business of wine.
Expertise
Your teachers are a real who’s who of the wine industry and provide real-world examples and tips on how to succeed in the wine industry. They include Advanced Sommeliers, winemakers, and more wine industry experts. You’ll also have the opportunity to network with and learn alongside local wine professionals.
Diverse Curriculum
Choose from more than a dozen unique elective and intensive courses that cover a wide range of wine industry topics, from vineyard management and marketing wine to varietals and wine list creation.
Want to Learn More?
Submit this web form and we’ll be in touch to answer all your questions and explain the next steps in the process. Or, you can reach a program recruiter by emailing recruiter.global@sdsu.edu or by calling (619) 594-7700.