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Program leaves students with nothing to ‘wine’ about |
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Tuesday, 29 January 2008 |
by JULIA HARR
Lifestyles Reporter
What’s white, red and growing all over?
North Carolina’s wine industry and wine education programs.
A
proposal for a bachelor’s degree in oenology and viticulture is in the
works and expected to be passed to go into effect in the fall of 2008.
“The wine business is fascinating and very complicated - no one really
understands it,” chemistry professor and program director Grant Holder
said. “This would be the first bachelor level program [in viticulture]
in North Carolina.”
 Photo by Derek DeSha
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The program began two years ago to determine interest and now has several courses including "Understanding and Appreciating Wine” and “Wine Marketing.”
Currently, about 25 to 30 students are involved in the program.
Terri L. Moser, a junior hospitality and tourism management major,
started taking the classes her freshman year and plans to minor in
oenology and viticulture.
“I heard upperclassmen talking about the classes and I got interested,”
she said. “I have really enjoyed them. The minor really compliments my
major.”
“The newest course will teach students about dessert wines and
sparkling wines,” Holder said. “North Carolina vineyards will produce
grapes perfect for those wines.”
Upon approval, the program will be transatlantic and students can
expect to study abroad in foreign countries known for their wines such
as Portugal, France and Italy.
Although the degree is mostly chemistry based to give students
background on the process of wine making, it will also teach students
the marketing aspects of the industry.
“We will teach people how to entertain at a wine tasting,” Holder said. “Knowing how to market is a big part of it.”
Moser would like to own her own inn and vineyard.
“I have had the opportunity to get hands-on experience by visiting
different vineyards,” Moser said. “We went to Toe River Vineyard and
saw a small winery.”
She is learning to set up a vineyard and what it takes to make grapes grow.
Because the program is based on the North Carolina wine industry, she plans to stay in the state when she opens her business.
“There are so many different kinds of grapes you can grow here,” she said. “I could make all kinds of wine.”
Holder said one of the best ways to learn about different wines is go to a tasting and try as many wines as possible.
“The best way to learn about wine is to taste it,” Moser said. “I look
forward to turning 21 so that I can go to wine tastings and learn more
about wine.”
“I’m glad students are excited about taking chemistry,” Holder said.
“This allows them to apply it in a way that is interesting and
profitable.”
Holder would like the program to develop to the point that students would get the opportunity to manage their own winery.
Currently, Surry Community College and James Sprunt Technical College offer associate’s degrees in viticulture.
“It’s a great day for North Carolina and the wine industry,” Dennis G.
Sutton said of Appalachian’s proposal. Sutton is the viticulture
instructor at James Sprunt Technical College.
He currently has between 10 and 15 students each semester enrolled in
the program and said students are enthusiastic about learning.
“I’m looking forward to see where it goes for [Appalachian],” Sutton said.
A growing interest in wine education is credited to the growing wine industry.
“North Carolina gets about one new winery every month,” Holder said. “I think they have about 70 now.”
In 2000, North
Carolina had only about 20 wineries in the state according to the North
Carolina Wine and Grape Council’s Web site, ncwine.org.
Holder said the western side of the state is losing interest in the
tobacco industry and has turned their efforts to the wine industry.
Yadkin Valley is the first official viticulture region in the state, according to ncwine.org.
The region is very favorable for grape-growing.
With knowledge from the programs, students have been able to help new vintners start their vineyards and wineries.
The new program currently works with Benny Parson’s Rendezvous Ridge, which has a tasting room in Wilkesboro.
Terri Parsons, wife of the late Benny Parsons, a former NASCAR driver,
continues their dream of owning a vineyard with the help of Appalachian
students.
Benny Parson’s Rendezvous Ridge opened a few months ago and currently
grows it’s grapes in Lewisville. Benny passed away in January 2007
after the grape plants had been purchased.
“The people [in the program] are terrific people and have given us so
much guidance,” Parsons said. “They helped walk me through the worst
time in my life.”
Parsons is excited about what a bachelor’s degree in oenology and viticulture could mean for North Carolina.
“It shows the United States that we are dead serious about the wine
industry and about becoming more educated about what we’re doing,” she
said. “We’re not just putting plants in the ground and calling it a
vineyard - we’re becoming experts.”
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