Workforce Alliance of the North Bay seeks to improve wine industry access by supporting employers via Vintners Institute Academy’s new online incumbent worker training program.
Thursday, May 9th, 2024 – “Do you have any wine industry experience?” This question is a common barrier to hiring good people that lack wine industry experience. Few industries farm, manufacture, and sell their own products, let alone have thousands of years of history and culture. The language of the wine industry is rich and complex. This solution was designed to expand access to the labor force.
The Vintners Institute Academy’s Winegrowing Technology program is comprised of four key courses designed to rapidly upskill employees that are new to the wine industry. Curated by industry professionals and delivered by expert instructors, Vintners Institute curriculum has been curated to deliver a cross-functional understanding of grape growing, winemaking and direct-to-consumer job training as performed at an estate winery operation. This incumbent worker training program not only provides an instructional framework for learning more, cross-trained employees allow for greater workforce flexibility and provides the worker with more job satisfaction. Winegrowing Technology certificate courses comprise 87 hours of instruction:
- Introduction to Winegrowing (VIA 1): A big-picture view of the major functions in winegrowing and career pathways. 5 weeks.
- Four Seasons of Grape Growing (VIA 2): A primer on grapevine phrenology and climate smart viticultural practices. 8 weeks.
- Seven Stages of Winemaking (VIA 3): A primer on wine production and quality systems with climate-smart practices. 8 weeks.
- Selling With a Sense of Place (VIA 2): A primer on Direct-to-Consumer and outside sales operations with climate-smart practices. 8 weeks.
To enroll in VIA 1, scan the QR code at the top of this Press Release. Please note that to be eligible to enroll, trainees must work for a vineyard, winery, wine industry supplier or an AVA association. Attention AVA Executive Directors and Board Presidents, please contact bryan@vintnersinstitute.com for special access. For inquiry about funding assistance for employers, please contact Sita Williams of WANB at swilliams@workforcealliancenorthbay.org.
About Vintners Institute
The Vintners Institute Guild & Academy is dedicated to climate-smart advancements in grape and wine production through applied research and workforce training. The Vintners Institute Academy is a trade school serving grape and wine production occupations via online courses taught in English and Spanish. The Winegrowing Technology certificate program teaches those that are new to the wine industry and their supplier how to speak the language of the estate winery in the vineyard, the winery cellar, and the tasting room. https://vintnersinstitute.com/
