Wine Business Leadership Certificate
Advance your wine industry expertise
Drive dynamic change in the wine industry by earning your Graduate Certificate in Wine Business Leadership at Linfield University. We are thrilled to launch this certificate program in spring 2025.
Created for current wine professionals and those wanting to transition into the wine sector, our wine certificate program takes your wine knowledge to the next level. Enroll in a series of graduate-level courses that expand your understanding of the wine business and production, hospitality, public relations, marketing and much more.
Ready to elevate your wine business expertise?
Study at Linfield’s Center for Wine Education and join our growing community.
Program features
Study full time or part time
Earn your certificate in as little as one semester
$1,070 per semester credit
Why earn your wine business certificate at Linfield?
Shorter time commitment
As a working professional, your time is precious. That’s why we built our graduate certificate programs to accommodate your schedule. Depending on your circumstances and commitments, you can choose between part-time or full-time enrollment, empowering you to learn at your own pace. Engaging in full-time study allows you to earn your wine business certificate in less than one year.
Boost your industry knowledge with a master’s degree
If you decide to pursue a more advanced graduate education, our wine certificate program gives you the flexibility to do so. We designed our program credits to be stackable. This means you can apply them toward earning your Master of Science in Business in Wine Business Leadership, which continues to deepen your wine industry knowledge and enhances your strategic business skills.
Wine business certificate program curriculum
Linfield’s Graduate Certificate in Wine Business Leadership offers an immersive graduate education, rooted in tried-and-true business principles and specialized wine industry insight.
Learn how to tackle challenges in the wine business world with innovative solutions, oversee winery operations and create strategic plans for wine production. You become skilled in financial forecasting, strategic planning for future production goals and learning the many compliance issues required in the wine business.
You'll also examine the tenets of wine marketing, including digital marketing strategies, developing sales campaigns and brand management. To complement your marketing knowledge, our program also emphasizes hospitality, which is an integral part of this industry.
What courses will you take?
To complete the certificate, you take four out of five course options on our McMinnville campus. Each course, with the exception of Wine Law & Compliance, is eight weeks long.
- Strategic Wine Production
- Wine Business & Finance
- Wine Law & Compliance, Intensive weekend workshop
- Wine Marketing & Hospitality
- Wine Sales
Explore Linfield’s executive wine certificate course list to learn more.
Learn from wine and business experts
Linfield’s Center for Wine Education faculty infuse their passion and industry expertise into your education. Whether you are inside or outside the classroom, our professors help you reach new levels of academic and professional success through personalized mentorship and career support. With their insight and guidance, you continue to grow as an innovative wine business leader.
Meet our Wine Studies facultyCareer outlook for wine business professionals
No matter your previous professional experience or your academic background, pursuing a graduate-level wine certificate can help you break into or advance in the wine industry, which has increased exponentially in recent years. In fact, domestic wineries — primarily in California, Washington and Oregon — have grown four and a half times, creating a thriving job market for wine business professionals.
With the strategic planning skills and industry expertise you gain in Linfield’s wine business certificate program, you are prepared for the following roles within the wine sector:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Events manager
- General manager
- Hospitality director
- Marketing manager
- Sales manager
- Wine club sales director
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are all classes in-person? All the classes are taught live. Some of the courses include field trips, particularly the Wine Marketing & Hospitality course, while others may feature guest speakers in class. The format depends on the course.
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What if one of the courses does not fit in my schedule? Students only need to complete 4 out of the 5 courses. You do not have to take all 4 courses in one spring semester. Any unfinished courses can be completed the following spring to earn the graduate certificate.
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What is the cost of textbooks and online reading materials? All textbooks are provided for free with the course or are available as open-source readings.
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Is there outside class time required for study? Yes. Most instructors include out-of-class experiences, though the specific time commitment varies by course.
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Are there exams for each class? Each class has some form of grading component, but not all courses require final exams. Some may require presentations or other assignments instead.
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What is the Spring 2025 Course Schedule? Strategic Wine Production
8 weeks, Feb. 10 – Apr. 4, Tuesdays, 11:30 A.M. – 2:30 P.M.
Wine Business & Finance
8 weeks, Feb. 10 – Apr. 4, Mondays, 2:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Wine Law & Compliance, intensive weekend workshop
Apr. 4 – 6, Friday – Sunday
Wine Sales
8 weeks, Apr. 7 – May 30, Wednesdays, 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Wine Marketing & Hospitality
8 weeks, Apr. 7 – May 26, Mondays, 1:00 P.M.
Wine business certificate program admissions
Begin your journey to studying at Linfield University. Learn more about the admission process and requirements for the graduate wine certificate program.
Tuition and cost
Invest in your future at Linfield. Pursuing a graduate education creates new career opportunities that can enrich the quality of your life. We remain proactive in improving access to higher education by offering competitive tuition rates and personalized assistance to help you navigate funding your education.
Study in the heart of Oregon’s wine country
Say “yes” to a one-of-a-kind education by enrolling in the Graduate Certificate in Wine Business Leadership program at Linfield University. Grounded in experiential learning and career readiness, our certificate program supports your holistic growth as a business leader and gives you the skills needed to bring innovation in the wine industry.
Join our vibrant community of learners. Apply to Linfield today!
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