Learn about wine with online courses and programs
What is wine?
Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grapes. When combined with yeast, the sugars in the grapes are converted into alcohol. The wine’s style, color, and flavor are influenced by everything from the grapes’ variety, to the region they were grown in.
Wine has played a significant role in human history, culture, and rituals. Its history dates back thousands of years to the Middle East, Egypt, and ancient Greece. Over time, winemaking has experienced many evolutions and led to interesting innovations, such as sustainable agriculture, alternative packaging, and wine preservation systems.
The subtleties of a wine’s aromas and flavors contribute to the art of pairing wine with different foods, offering a rich sensory experience. Studying wine can enhance your appreciation of other cultures and traditions, as well as open up doors to career prospects as a sommelier or winemaker.
Browse online wine courses
Wine course curriculum
Whether you want to be able to describe wines more knowledgeably or become an expert sommelier, the first step to learning about wine is learning about how it’s made. With edX courses, you can discover the science behind winemaking from grape to glass.
The history of winemaking can be a strong starting point for new learners, allowing you to understand its evolution and importance among different cultures. As you progress through your coursework, you might explore the different types of wines, their characteristics, and the impact of the vineyard environment on the final product.
Your studies may also help prepare you to:
Evaluate and communicate the various sensory attributes of wine using formal descriptive language.
Explain the structure, growth, and development of grapevines and objectives of different vineyard management practice.
Contrast the different winemaking techniques employed in the production of different styles of wine.
edX offers online courses that allow learners to study a variety of topics including the world of wine and much more. Sign up for an accelerated boot camp or enroll in a full degree program and start working toward a bachelor's degree or (for more advanced learners) a master’s degree in a relevant subject. You can also explore executive education programs specifically designed for busy professionals.
Explore wine industry jobs
If learning about wine inspires you to pursue a career in the industry, there are many exciting roles to choose from. Each role will require a unique blend of skills, knowledge, and experience, but with the right passion and education, you may qualify for jobs such as:
Winemaker: Oversees the winemaking process, from grape harvesting and fermentation to producing and bottling.Footnote 1
Sommelier: Curates wine lists for hospitality businesses, assists diners in wine selection, and provides food pairing expertise.Footnote 2
Wine brand manager: Develops compelling storytelling and marketing strategies to help set their brand apart from others.Footnote 3
While these roles exist within the same industry, employment qualifications for careers that rely on knowledge of wine can differ based on the position and employer. Some roles may require a higher level degree of learning, while others may only ask for a demonstration of skills that can be acquired through hands-on experience, for example. Before deciding on which learning path will work best for you, research potential roles you hope to pursue and align your coursework with your professional aspirations.