Enology & Viticulture

The Enology & Viticulture Program requires an additional admissions process.

Note: Students must apply separately to the Enology & Viticulture program in addition to applying to WWCC.

Students must be 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or GED to enroll in Enology and Viticulture.

Students must be physically able to safely perform the tasks required in the vineyard and winery, which will include pruning, lifting, climbing, bending, stretching, twisting, crawling and moving, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling items weighing up to 50 lbs. Ability to taste, smell, and check for optical clarity of wine. Ability to visually inspect and sort wine grapes – checking for diseases and insects – during the growing season through harvest.

1. Apply to Walla Walla Community College. This can be done by visiting the website: wwcc.edu or visiting the college during business hours.
2. Request official transcripts from all colleges you have attended be sent to the Office of Admissions. (A high school transcript also may be required.)
3. Complete placement test to determine eligibility to enroll in Math & English Courses. For more information about scheduling placement testing visit https://www.wwcc.edu/testing/.
4. Apply for financial aid as soon as possible after October 1, 2024. Visit WWCC’s financial aid website: https://www.wwcc.edu/financial-aid/for specific instructions.

Note: Students accepted into the Enology & Viticulture Program will be eligible to apply for an additional set of department scholarships. More information regarding the EV scholarships will be sent upon acceptance into the program.

5. Submit your current typed résumé and an essay covering the topics listed below to Donna Murray.

Essay requirements –typed, 500 words or less, covering the following topics: Why are you interested in studying enology & viticulture? What do you see as your role in the future of the wine industry?

6. Schedule an interview with EV Interim Director Casey McClellan. This interview can take place in-person or online.

Applications are currently being accepted to Fall 2024. For priority consideration, submit your application materials by April 15, 2024. After that date, students will be admitted on a space available basis. There is opportunity to begin coursework prior to Fall 2024. Please contact the Program Coordinator for additional information.

The following criteria will be used to evaluate applicants:

1. Resume and essay submitted to the Enology & Viticulture program
2. Wine industry related work experience
3. Prior academic success
4. Personal Interview

At WWCC, we’ll help you find scholarships that may be open to you. Scholarships provide money for school that you don’t have to pay back. They can be used for things like tuition, books, tools and fees. They come from sources like the WWCC Foundation, local businesses and private funds. Some

WWCC programs also have scholarships for students working toward a certain certificate or degree. You might qualify based on good grades, financial need or the potential to benefit from school. The bottom line: You have options. We’ll help you explore them at WWCC.

There are lots of ways to pay for college. We will work with you to find the right mix of support so that you can go after your dreams. Talk with us to learn more about:

• Financial aid — grants, scholarships and student loans.

• Workforce Education Services — support for students on workforce training pathways.

• Warrior Pledge — covers needs not met by other financial aid.

• Flexible payment plans — low monthly payments with no interest.

• Work study — work part-time on campus while you earn your degree.

• Emergency funds — for students who are struggling to make ends meet.

You can go to college. Start exploring your options today.

• Washington State University
  Students may bridge from Walla Walla’s Enology and Viticulture program to the WSU Viticulture and Enology degree. The partnership provides a geographic advantage for students seeking hands-on experience in the heart of Washington wine country.
• Bordeaux Sciences Agro
  Discover Bordeaux Sciences Agro’s board offer in International Viticulture and Enology programs.

The Institute also offers seminars in sensory evaluation, barrel making, wine yeasts, wine appreciation, wine consumer education, health and wine awareness, and hospitality training.

For additional information including regional employment data, completion rates, student characteristics, and employment see http://www.careerbridge.wa.gov.

College Cellars of Walla Walla is a teaching winery located at the Walla Walla Institute for Enology and Viticulture  at Walla Walla Community College. Our wines are produced by our student winemakers. With access to cutting edge technology and training in time-honored techniques, they craft wines that express the vibrancy of the Walla Walla Valley AVA and its winemaking community.

College Cellars

• Agriculture & Natural Resource Center of Excellence
• Femmes du Vin
• The Alliance of Women in Washington Wine
• The Oregon Wine Brotherhood
• The Roots Fund
• WWIF Scholarship