Continuing Education

Wine Making I

Certificate of Achievement
In Class Learning
Plan # C2146
Start date: Fall / Winter / Spring

About This Certificate | Program Delivery | Career Opportunities | Certificate Benefits | Obtaining Your Certificate | For Further Information

About This Certificate

For some, wine is a pleasure to be enjoyed. For you, it’s that – and an exciting career! So come join our award winning commercial teaching winery. This certificate will ignite your passion for wine making.

Whether you are a hobbyist and/or a wine enthusiast interested in enhancing your knowledge about wine, this program combines theoretical knowledge and skills with practical hands-on experience to quench your thrust.

Program Delivery

Individual courses are open to all students whether or not they are working toward the certificate.

Prerequisites may be required for these courses. Please refer to individual course descriptions for specific requirements.

Career Opportunities


This certificate prepares individuals for an exciting career in the viticulture and winemaking industry. Curriculum covers the aspect of the business and science of wine-making.

Possible Entry level career options include:

  • Oenologist – serving as a professional winemaker to test grapes, ferment the juice, oversee cellaring and manage storage and maturation of the wine
  • Vineyard Manager – a wine professional in charge of selecting different crop varieties, planting grape vines and pruning crops each season
  • Cellar Manager – a wine professional responsible for storing wine so that it reaches full maturation, overseeing sales and providing tours for vendors and guests
  • Cellar Hand – an assistant to the cellar manager who oversees the operations of the cellar, manages inventory and coordinates day-to-day operations
  • Wine Researcher – a wine professional responsible for conducting field research studies to learn about the soil and vine preservation opportunities
  • Expert Winemaker/Enologist – a wine professional responsible for the actual making of wine and spirits; may have a strong background in physics and chemistry

Possible career paths include:

  • Supervisory positions within the wine industry
  • Cellar hand
  • Vineyard worker
  • Laboratory technician
  • Start your own wine label
  • Winery Retail
  • Wine Event Consultant / Wine Business Consultant
  • Wine Columnist / Journal writing
  • Buyer Retail / Wholesale
  • Hotels / Resorts
  • Resident Restaurant Expert
  • Prerequisite for Sommelier
  • Wine and Beverage Management
  • Wine Sales

Certificate Benefits

Credits earned from successfully completing this certificate can be applied for credit towards Niagara College’s full time wine and viticulture post secondary programming.

It also meets the prerequisite requirements for acceptance into Niagara College’s Certified Sommelier Certificate program.

Obtaining Your Certificate (Application for Graduation)

Upon completion of all requirements, the student must complete an “Application For Graduation” form available from the Registrar’s Office.

If the student wishes to have their certificate presented to them at convocation ceremony in the Fall, there is a $25 fee.

Application, accompanied by fee (if applicable) must be forwarded to Registration and Records, Office of the Registrar before the application deadline.

For further information, contact:

Niagara College Registrar’s Office
Email: registrar@niagaracollege.ca
905-735-2211, Ext 7500

For Further Information

Niagara College Continuing Education
Email: ce@niagaracollege.ca
Web: www.niagaracollege.ca/ce
Phone: 905-735-2211, ext. 7510.