The University of Kentucky will offer four wine-related courses in the coming academic year to create career opportunities for students interested in entering the state's growing wine industry. The courses will cover topics ranging from horticulture, plant and soil science to agricultural economics and hospitality management.
Beginning this fall, a wine appreciation course will be introduced by the College of Agriculture. The class comprising of 21 students will study for the first time about the history, science and pleasure of wine.
Professor Michael Barrett, who will teach the course, expects his students to comprehend the qualities and chemistry of various wines. Apart from classroom lectures, the course will include exercises and field trips to vineyards and wineries.
"As teachers, we look for ideas that students find interesting and relevant and that provide something they can build on as they go through the rest of their lives," said Barrett. "This course fits into the surge in wine interest I see happening in Kentucky and, really, the entire country."
Viticulture, Wine and Brewing Science is another wine-related course that will be introduced in the fall. This course will focus on the science behind wine and beer, sans wine or beer tasting.
"This isn't promoting alcohol consumption," said Professor Seth DeBolt, who will be teaching the course. "This is purely about science and careers. There is demand in the industry for graduates and no courses." The course will feature grapevine physiology and the economics of the beer industry.
Patsy Wilson, a UK viticulture specialist, said that Kentucky is home to 68 wineries, 140 to 160 wine and grape growers and 560 acres of wine grapes. According to UK oenologist Tom Cottrell, all together, the state approximately produces 150,000 cases of wine per year, resulting in $15 million in annual revenue.
In order to produce more skilled workers to support this huge international business, the college plans to introduce two other courses next year.
Jeff Wheeler, a grape and wine researcher will teach an introductory course on viticulture, beginning in spring 2014. The students in this course will study grapevine anatomy and physiology, vineyard design and economics.
During fall 2014, a wine production course will be based on the science of wine and winemaking. As part of this course, students will be working on the UK Horticulture Research Farm, which includes five acres of vineyards.
