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Submitter's Information

Name

Alfredo Koch

Title

Coordinator and Professor

Region

South Central Coast

College

Allan Hancock College

CTE Dean

CTE Dean's Name

Thomas Lamica

CTE Dean's Email

Log in to view CTE Dean's Email.

Program Details

Program Title

Viticulture and Enology - Winemaking

Submission Type

New Program

TOPs Code

Viticulture, Enology, and Wine Business (010400)

Projected Start Date

06/05/26

Catalog Description

The Winemaking concentration offers students an intense, hands-on experience in fall and spring winery operations and the essential introduction to winemaking procedures, including wine lab analysis. The practices are performed in a college-bonded winery with grapes grown mostly at the college, making wines that are available to the public.

Enrollment Completer Projections

20 Students

Program Proposal Attributes

Program Award Type(s) (Check all that apply)
  • A.S. Degree (S)
Program Goal

We are currently offering all the listed courses, but without a clear degree program. This Associate of Science will correct this issue by providing a clear degree name and including all the existing courses in winemaking that we currently offer at Allan Hancock College. The study of winemaking offers students an intense, hands-on experience in fall and spring winery operations and the essential introduction to winegrowing and wine lab analysis. 

The V&E program offers three areas of concentration: viticulture, winemaking, and wine business.

The Winemaking emphasis prepares students for entry-level positions as winery laboratory assistants, cellar masters, assistant winemakers, winery education directors, wine quality control specialists, and sensory evaluation personnel.

Course Units and Hours

Total Certificate Units (Minimum and Maximum)

n/a

Units for Degree Major or Area of Emphasis (Minimum and Maximum)

Associate in Science Min 32 Max 36 units

Total Units for Degree (Minimum and Maximum)

Associate in Science Min 60.5 Max 68 units

Course Report

Program Requirements Narrative

New Credit Program: Viticulture and Enology - Winemaking - A.S.-Local





We are currently offering all the listed courses, but without a clear degree program. This Associate of Science will correct this issue by providing a clear degree name and including all the existing courses in winemaking that we currently offer at Allan Hancock College. The study of winemaking offers students an intense, hands-on experience in fall and spring winery operations and the essential introduction to winegrowing and wine lab analysis. 

The V&E program offers three areas of concentration: viticulture, winemaking, and wine business.

The Winemaking emphasis prepares students for entry-level positions as winery laboratory assistants, cellar masters, assistant winemakers, winery education directors, wine quality control specialists, and sensory evaluation personnel.

The Winemaking concentration offers students an intense, hands-on experience in fall and spring winery operations and the essential introduction to winemaking procedures, including wine lab analysis. The practices are performed in a college-bonded winery with grapes grown mostly at the college, making wines that are available to the public.

A major of 32 units is required for the associate in science degree.

 
General Education
 

In addition to completing the program requirements, students are also required to complete general education courses. Students may follow the AHC GE or the Cal-GETC pathways to meet these requirements. Students intending to transfer to four-year university must use the Cal-GETC GE pathway. To see what major courses and General Education requirements you need to fulfill, visit your myHancock account and select Degree/Works button in the Academic Profile widget. For more information and guidance, and to receive a detailed education plan, make an appointment with an academic counselor.

 
Required core courses (22 units):
22.0
VEN 316
Introduction to Wine Microbiology
3.0
VEN 311
Winemaking Operations II
2.0
VEN 310
Winemaking Operations I
2.0
VEN 308
Wine Analysis
3.0
VEN 114
Wine Business
3.0
VEN 103
Sensory Evaluation of Wine
3.0
VEN 102
Introduction to Viticulture
3.0
VEN 101
Introduction to Winemaking/Enology
3.0
Plus a minimum of units selected from the following:
10.0
CHEM 120
Introductory Chemistry
4.0
VEN 318
Advanced Winemaking
3.0
VEN 104
Advanced Sensory Evaluation of Wine
3.0
AG 149
Work Experience Education
1.0
VEN 122
Viticulture Operations 3
1.0
VEN 121
Viticulture Operations 2
3.0
VEN 120
Viticulture Operations 1
3.0
VEN 302
Progressive Wine and Food Pairing
0.5
VEN 301
Pairing Wine and Food
0.5
VEN 330
Harvest Boot Camp
0.5
VEN 325
Vineyard Equipment Practices
1.0
VEN 324
Small Acreage Grapegrowing
1.0
VEN 322
Winemaking Operations IV
2.0
VEN 321
Winemaking Operations III
2.0
VEN 135
Grapevine Physiology
1.0
VEN 130 (same as AG 130)
Integrated Pest Management
4.0
VEN 314
Organic/Biodynamic Winegrowing
3.0
VEN 106
Winery and Vineyard Financial Management
3.0
Total: 32.0

This program will appropriately address the objective of the community college to increase students ready to join the industry as well as increase transfer rates to a 4-year university for the students who would like to continue with their education. Countless students have taken multiple winemaking courses at Allan Hancock College with the desire to transfer to a 4-year university to complete a degree in a number of wine-related sciences.  This degree will bridge this gap for these students while at the same time improving transfer rates from AHC.

The program aligns with the goal: California community colleges are critical partners to help the state achieve its goal of 70% of working-aged Californians having a postsecondary degree or certificate by 2030. 

20

There is one AA degree that was designed to transfer to the UC system in both viticulture and enology, but no local degree.

No similar programs in the service area. We are the only 2 year college that offers winemaking.

Program Requirements
CourseTitleUnitsSemester
VEN 101Intro to Winemaking3S1
VEN 102Intro to Viticulture3S1
VEN 310Winemaking Operations I2S1
VEN 308Wine Analysis3S1
AHC GE Area 2: Mathematicla concepts and Quatitative Reasoning3S1
AHC Grad Req: Health & Wellenss - Physicla Activity0.5S1
AHC Grad Req: Health & Wellenss - Health Education or First Safety3S1
VEN 311Winemaking Operations II2S2
VEN/AG/CHEMCore Elective - Winemaking AS2S2
AHC GE Area 7. Living Skills3S2
AHC GE Area 4A Social and Behavioral Science3S2
AHC GE Area 1A. Written Composition4S2
VEN 103Sensory Evaluation of Wine3S3
VEN 114  Wine Business3S3
VEN 316Wine Microbiology3S3
VEN/AG/CHEMCore Elective - Winemaking AS3S3
AHC Area 1B Communication and Critical Thinking3S3
VEN/AG/CHEMCore Elective - Winemaking AS2S4
VEN/AG/CHEMCore Elective - Winemaking AS3S4
AHC GE Area 3:Arts and Humanities3S4
AHC GEArea 4BAmerican History and Government3S4
AHC GE Area 6: Ethnic Studies3S4

Supporting Documents

South Central Coast Regional Questions

Please upload any additional information/justifications for your program such as Advisory Committee Meeting Notes, Employer Surveys, Environmental Scans, etc. Shift-click to select multiple files when uploading.

Submission Details

Published at

08/20/25 - 02:07 PM

Status

Recommended

Return to Drafts

Please list the reason(s) for returning "Viticulture and Enology - Winemaking". to Alfredo Koch's drafts. This message will be sent to akoch@hancockcollege.edu

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