Jon Martinez has a passion for making quality wine. WSU’s enology certificate program is helping him focus on the science and analytics of the winemaking process.
“Years ago, I had the pleasure of tasting some Syrah and Viognier wines from Washington state. I was surprised,” Martinez said.
He owned a dental practice for nine years in Kansas before moving to Washington last year to start his own winery.
Online/hands-on blend
WSU’s viticulture and enology certificate courses are separate two-year programs that educate students in all facets of grape and wine production through online lessons and hands-on experience. The programs are tailored for people interested in wine-grape growing and winemaking, but not interested in obtaining a college degree.
WSU’s viticulture and enology certificate courses are separate two-year programs that educate students in all facets of grape and wine production through online lessons and hands-on experience. The programs are tailored for people interested in wine-grape growing and winemaking, but not interested in obtaining a college degree.
Recently, students enrolled in the enology program from all over the United States traveled to WSU’s Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Prosser to participate in a weekend-long “wine camp.” They got an insider’s view of Washington’s booming wine industry as well as hands-on experience in mission-critical jobs like filtration and bottling.
Demand increases frequency
Both the enology and viticulture programs offer a balance of online interactive learning and hands-on activities. In the grape production class, for example, students study pruning online and then physically prune vines in a research vineyard at Prosser.
Both the enology and viticulture programs offer a balance of online interactive learning and hands-on activities. In the grape production class, for example, students study pruning online and then physically prune vines in a research vineyard at Prosser.
In response to demand from students and the burgeoning Washington wine industry, the professional certificate programs start every year.
“We used to start the programs every two years, but the demand was so high that we had to come up with a way to meet the needs,” said director Mercy Olmstead. “The best way to do that was to run both programs concurrently instead of consecutively.
“Originally, this program was a course offered on the weekends in a classroom setting, but we created the online courses to give more people a chance to learn from highly educated professionals, and it keeps growing,” she said.
And it has spawned a spinoff.
A course at a time
The same courses recently were made available individually through a self-directed option. Students who go this route view the same presentations and get the same information as the certificate program students, but without the assignments, exams, instructor contact or hands-on weekends.
The same courses recently were made available individually through a self-directed option. Students who go this route view the same presentations and get the same information as the certificate program students, but without the assignments, exams, instructor contact or hands-on weekends.
This “do it yourself” option is for those who want the information but are not interested in the full certificate due to time or resource constraints, or who simply want to round out their education in certain areas. The courses can answer questions about irrigation, pests and diseases, soils and nutrients, grapevine anatomy, trellising and pruning.
For details on courses offered, or to purchase a course, visit https://tinyurl.com/selfeno.
Lifetime of learning resources
“Winemaking is something you are learning all your life,” Martinez said.
Lifetime of learning resources
“Winemaking is something you are learning all your life,” Martinez said.
His winery, Maison Bleue, is focused on Rhone grape varieties from southern France. One of the most popular wines that he has made is the 2007 Maison Bleue La Vie Douce Roussanne, a rich wine that blends the aromas of honey and apricot with the sweet flavors of pineapple and pear.
He also released two new wines in March, a 2008 Notre Vie Viognier and a 2008 Au Contraire Chardonnay. The Au Contraire is the first wine to be made of grapes from Martinez’s own French Creek Vineyard.
“This is my future,” Martinez said. “I came here to be the best.”
