Sonoma State University

Wine Business Strategies Concentration

Conveniently located in the heart of Sonoma County wine country, students concentrating in Wine Business Strategies have a wide range of career opportunities available to them. Many students begin their careers in the tasting room where they develop strong customer service skills and master the product line. A typical career move may lead students in a Wine Club, Social Media, vineyard or cellar management, or e-Commerce position. Especially when complemented with a marketing concentration, grads may move into an array of outside sales positions with distributors or into marketing positions, such as brand management. 

Career Possibilities
Customer Service/Sales and Promotions Tasting Room; Direct to Consumer Sales; Wine Club; Regional Sales
Marketing  Product Management; Brand Management; Public Relations; Social Media Management; Event Planning; e-Commerce
International Business International Distribution; International Marketing

 

Tracks

Students in the Wine Business Strategies concentration can choose between the general management or wine production tracks.

The Wine Business Strategies concentration is most ideal for students seeking a general management position within the wine industry. A viticulture and/or wine production academic background is not required. 

Concentration Requirements

  1. Complete All Lower-Division Business Major Requirements.
  2. Complete All Upper-Division Core Requirements.
  3. Complete five courses from the list below.

Four Required Courses

  • BUS 305W Introduction to Wine Business 
  • BUS 464W Production, Operations and Distribution (Not offered in Spring)
  • BUS 465W Wine Marketing 
    - Prerequisite: BUS 360
  • BUS 499W Internship in the Wine Business

One Additional Course

  • BUS 362 Services Marketing
    - Prerequisite: BUS 360
  • BUS 365 Introduction to Hospitality and Event Management
  • BUS 366 Retail Management 
    - BUS 360 NOT a prereq.
  • BUS 385W Special Topics in Wine
  • BUS 386W Beverage & Foodservice Management in Hospitality Operations
  • BUS 396W Global Wine Industry 
    - Prerequisite: BUS 360
  • BUS 397W The Global Marketplace for Wine 
    ​ - Prerequisite: BUS 305W and 360  
  • BUS 399W Advanced Work Experience 
  • BUS 463  Sales Management and Personal Selling 
    ​ - Prerequisite: BUS 360 
  • BUS 467W Wine E-Commerce and Direct Sales  
    ​ - Prerequisite: BUS 319
  • BUS 475W Wine Accounting and Finance 
    ​ - Prerequisite: BUS 370

The Wine Business Strategies Wine Production Track is designed for students who are interested in combining Sonoma State University's wine business coursework with Santa Rosa Junior College's viticulture and enology coursework to earn their four-year degree from Sonoma State University.

Wine Production Track Requirements

  1. Complete 5 required courses at SRJC for a total of 8.5 units
    • Wine 3 Introduction to Enology
    • Wine 42.1 or 42.2 Winery Operations
    • VIT 120 Vineyard Pruning
    • VIT 123 Vineyard Grafting & Budding
    • WINE 70 Beginning Sensory Analysis
  2. Take a designated GE Chemistry course with a lab from either SSU or SRJC for 3-5 units.
  3. Complete All Lower-Division Business Major Requirements.
  4. Complete All Upper-Division Core Requirements.
  5. Complete 15-16 units of Wine Business Strategies concentration coursework as listed below, which includes:
    • BUS 305W Introduction to Wine Business
    • BUS 464W Wine Production, Operations, and Distribution
    • BUS 465W Wine Marketing
    • Select at least one of the following elective courses:
      • BUS 475W Wine Accounting and Finance
      • BUS 467W Wine E-Commerce and Direct Sales
      • BUS 463 Sales Management and Personal Selling
      • BUS 399W Advanced Work Experience in Wine Business Strategies
      • BUS 397W The Global Marketplace for Wine
      • BUS 396W Global Wine Industry
      • BUS 386W Beverage & Foodservice Management in Hospitality Operations
      • BUS 385W Special Topics in Wine
      • BUS 366 Retail Management
      • BUS 365 Introduction to Hospitality and Event Management
      • BUS 362 Services Marketing 

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