Viticulture Course Online
Exam Optional
Tutor Support Yes unlimited by email
Qualification Certificate
Study Viticulture Courses Online
Careerline Course’s viticulture course is suitable for vineyard workers, vineyard managers and wine growers. Hobby farmers will get all the starting information they need to begin in the industry and enthusiastic amateur wine makers will find this course invaluable. As a starting point for people changing careers and wishing to pursue the idea of starting their own winery, this course is extremely popular.
You will learn a full range of necessary skills for successful viticulture including establishment of a vineyard, managing an existing vineyard, selecting suitable grape varieties, grape culture, harvest and post-harvest management and much more.
You will gain practical skills in grapevine culture and vineyard establishment and when these skills are used to run a business, a further course in agricultural marketing or a suitable group of courses from our business range would set the new winery on the path to success.
- Study viticulture online
- 100 hours
- Self paced
- 1-on-1 tutor support
- Learn a wide range of viticulture subjects
Course Aims:
- Choose an appropriate site for a vineyard.
- Simple Soil tests
- Measure pH
- Determine water content of soil.
- Choose appropriate grape varieties for different situations.
- Develop criteria to be considered when selecting which grape varieties to grow.
- Devise a procedure to establish a vineyard.
- Specify the techniques used in the culture of grape vines.
- Specify a procedure for harvest and post-harvest treatment of grapes.
- Formulate marketing strategies for vineyard products.
- Explain the basic principles of wine making.
Detailed Course Outline
This course is made up a number of lessons or units. Each of these has self assessment questions, a set task (practical homework) and an assignment which you can upload online. Click below to read about each of the lessons and what you will learn.
There are 10 Lessons in this course:
Introduction
- Nature and scope of the viticulture industry both locally and world wide
- Global viticulture
- Major winegrowing areas around the world
- The grape; genera and species
- Rootstocks
- Classification of grape varieties
- Table grapes
- Wine grapes
- Dried fruit
- Juice grapes
- Canned grapes
Climate and Soils
- Suitable climate and soil conditions for vineyard site establishment
- Temperature; temperature calculations; latitude-temperature index and degree days
- Sunlight
- Rainfall
- Soil; soil types and wine regions; understanding soils; texture; characteristics; soil structure; chemical characteristics of soils including pH and nutrient levels
- Understanding plant nutrition
- Soil water content
- Simple soil tests; naming the soil
- Problems with soil; erosion; salinity; structural decline; soil acidification; chemical residues
Selecting Grape Varieties
- Appropriate grape varieties for different situations.
- Grape types
- Selection considerations
- Matching the variety with the site
- Varietal characteristics
- Selecting wine grapes
- Yeild
- Reviewing important varieties; chenin blanc; chardonnay; semillion; muscat ottonel; muscadelle; gewurztraminer; cabernet sauvignon; carignan
- Vitis rotundifolia
- Wine grapes; raisin grapes; juice grapes
- Importance of rootstocks
- Purchasing plants
- Phylloxera
Vineyard Establishment
- Procedure to establish a vineyard
- Vineyard planning
- Site planning
- Vineyard layout
- Site preparation
- Planting the vines
- Vine spacing
- Shelter belts
- Crop infrastructure
- Equipment
Grapevine Culture Part A (Training & Pruning)
- Techniques used in the culture of grape vines
- Pruning and training vines
- Shoot spacing
- Bud numbers
- Vine spacing
- How much to prune
- Machine pruning
- Summer pruning
- Combination pruning
- Pruning sultana vines
- Trellising
- Trellis construction
- Guyot system
- Geneva double curtain system
- Head training
- Cordoning
- Kniffen systems
- Umbrella kniffen system
- Pergola training system
Grapevine Culture Part B (Weeds, Pests & Diseases)
- Types of weeds
- Controlling weeds
- Safety proceedures when using agricultural chemicals
- Laws and guidelines
- Types of chemicals
- Weed management before planting
- Weed management in new vineyards
- Weed management in established vineyards
- Integrated pest management
- Pest control in vineyards
- Grape berry moth
- Grape mealy bug
- Grape leaffolder
- Grapevine rust mite
- Grape blossom midge
- Flea beetles
- Birds and arge animals
- Disease control in vineyards
- Fungal diseases; rots; mildew; eutypa dieback etc
- Bacterial diseases
- Viruses
- Organic culture of grapes; organic pest and disease control
- Companion plants
- Managing environmental problems including air, water, damage, frost, hail, wind and shade
- Water mangement; runoff; water saving
- Grape clones and varieties
Grapevine Culture Part C (Irrigation & Feeding)
- Irrigating and feeding grapes
- Excessive irrigation
- Seasonal effects of irrigation
- Drip irrigation
- Monitoring and timing
- Feasibility of irrigation
- Design considerations
- Soil and water
- Measuring water available to plants
- Calculating permanent wilting point
- Calculating field capacity of a vineyard
- Available moisture range
- Measuring air filled porosity
- Tensiometer
- Estimating water
- Rate of growth
- Climate
- Drainage in vineyards; improving subsoil and surface drainage; subsurface drainage
- Soil fertility; choice of fertilizer; timing of application; fertigation
Improving Grape Quality
- Ways to ensure or improve grape quality.
- Plant stock
- Crop management
- Post harvest impact on quality
- Improving flower and fruit set
- Second set
- Girdling
- Berry thinning
Harvesting & Selling
- Procedure for harvest and post-harvest treatment
- Harvesting
- Testing for ripeness
- Influence of weather
- Harvesting techniques
- Selling grapes
- Vineyard resume
- Selling grapes
- Marketing contracts
- Selling online
- Developing a marketing plan
- Advertising
- Market research
- Legal considerations with marketing
Wine
- Basic principles of wine making
- Overview of winemaking process
- Production principles
- Fermentation
- Making white wine
- Making red wine
- Methods
When you have completed the lessons of your Certificate course, you will be given the option of taking the optional exam. It's okay if you don't want the exam, we still issue your Careerline Certificate. For Advanced Certificates however, the exam is compulsory (per module) and are included in the course fee.
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Course Tutor
Agriculture spans a wide variety of specializations. Who your tutor is will depend on which area of agriculture you are studying. Upon enrollment you will be assigned your own personal tutor who is there to support you throughout your studies.
How It Works
1. Learn Online
Get access to your course content anywhere, anytime and study at your own pace.
2. Get Help & Support
Connect with other like-minded students and get help from the teacher whenever you have a question.
3. Receive Certificate
Graduate from your course knowing that you have what it takes to reach your next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay in installments?
Yes! We offer great payment plans, however full payment up front is the cheapest. You can choose the best payment plan for you from the course page, or call us on 07 55368782 to talk to one of our course consultants for a custom plan.
Can I study from anywhere in the world?
We have many international students. Careerline's range of courses are suitable for any one, anywhere in the world.
Do I get a discount if I enroll in a second course?
Yes. You may claim a 5% fee discount when you enroll in a second course, and a further 10% off a three-course package.
Do I have to sit an Exam?
No. If you are enrolled in a Certificate course (100hrs), the exam is optional. You will be issued with a certificate which proves that you are competent in all units, if you choose not to sit the exam.
Do you have set start dates?
There are no set start dates, you may start at any time. Our courses are all self-paced. As our home page says, ‘Courses for Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime’. ‘Anytime’ includes the start time of your choice. However, we do encourage our students to submit assignments on a regular basis. Wherever possible, we suggest developing a study routine.