WSU to offer a major in wine business management

Washington State University will offer a major in wine business management, beginning this fall.

Offered through WSU’s school of business, the new major will teach the wine industry “from grape to grocer,” according to Justin Marquart, director of development and college relations. He said the program is the first of its kind in the state of Washington and may be the only wine program offered to undergraduates in the country.

He said students in the program will learn how to grow grapes, how to make wine, how to market wine and how to distribute the product, as well as the business aspects of running a winery. Students will take courses in agriculture, public relations and marketing as well as business.

Graduates, he said, will “have a full understanding of the wine business.” The first class will probably have between 10 and 20 students, he said, adding that Washington state’s burgeoning wine industry has been supportive of the new program.

“It isn’t wine appreciation,” Marquart said.