San Diego State University’s College of Extended Studies has announced it will be offering a revamped professional certificate program this year – for the “Business of Wine.”

“People who study wine should first and foremost have a passion for it,” says Lisa Redwine, who will teach two courses during the upcoming semester. “There’s a difference between a passion for drinking wine and a passion for studying wine, because they’re very different.”

The first course, “Exploring Wine,” will include studies on the history of wine and winemaking, differences in grape varietals, viticulture, and wine language, along with tastings and guest speaker appearances. Additional upcoming courses listed are Wine Making Behind the Scenes, Influence of Terrior Intensive, and California Intensive.

According to SDSU’s College of Extended Studies, certificate programs are “typically more relevant and focused for today's workforce than academic degrees and can be completed in a much shorter period of time.” The wine program specifically targets those working in or attempting to gain employment in the expanding wine industry in San Diego and southern Riverside counties.

“All of the classes expanded my knowledge of wine and helped me get to where I am now,” said Eddie Zavestoski, a student of an earlier incarnation of the program. He now works in a tasting room in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.