Cabrillo College to Offer Wine Studies Degree

Starting in fall 2024, Cabrillo College will offer its inaugural “Wine Studies Associate in Science” degree in response to industry demands.

The degree, approved in October and to debut in the 2024-25 course catalog, was developed over three years by instructor Deborah Parker Wong in conjunction with an industry advisory board drawn from Santa Cruz County.

“Cabrillo College is based in the Santa Cruz Mountains American Viticultural Area, a historic, world-class winegrowing region, and an ideal place to study wine,” Parker Wong said. “In re-envisioning the wine program, I wanted our students to have a pathway to higher education and to leapfrog into four-year programs with skills that ensure their success. When I returned to school for a master’s degree, it struck me that I was teaching my heart out — but if the courses were not transferable and there was no opportunity to earn a degree, I wasn’t giving my students every opportunity to advance.”

The “Wine Studies” program comprises 11 major courses — including basic winemaking, wine grape viticulture, and world wines — with seven transferable to the California State University and the University of California systems.

There are two companion certifications designed to introduce students to multiple career paths in the industry:

• A certificate of achievement in Wine Studies, approved in fall 2022, offers a foundation for students seeking employment in the wine industry by successfully finishing 7 courses;
• A noncredit global wine certificate of completion. Noncredit courses and certificates are tuition-free, repeatable, pass/no pass offerings for individuals aiming to enhance skills, increase employability, or pursue personal interests.

“The introduction of Cabrillo College’s Wine Studies degree marks an exciting expansion within our career-focused offerings,” said Annabelle Rodriguez, dean of career education and workforce development. “This program aligns with industry needs, providing students with a robust foundation for diverse career paths in the dynamic world of wine.”

Wine Studies at Cabrillo dates back to the year 2000 when the inaugural wine course was crafted by then Department Chair Sue Slater, targeting wine service skills for students in the Culinary Arts program.

Parker Wong, who joined Cabrillo College in 2015, was recruited by Slater to develop curriculum and teach the Department’s first Wine Faults course (CAHM 33). Today, this course stands as the sole accredited, independent offering of its kind available to students in California.

After Slater retired, Parker Wong envisioned the future of the program as a path for students to matriculate to four-year and graduate degree programs in enology and viticulture.

Cabrillo’s Wine Studies department is housed within the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Division, and is an integral part of the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Department.

Wine Studies is one of 142 Career Education degrees and certificates at Cabrillo.