Southern Oregon Wine Institute - A Catalyst To Economic Developmant

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Volume 5

The construction of the teaching winery at Umpqua Community College is progressing smoothly, despite the fact that this spring has been one of the wettest on record. According to UCC Foundation Chair, Lee Patterson, the work is on schedule and under budget. October 29th is the scheduled date for completion of the 23,000 square foot facility. This building will house the classrooms where we will teach Viticulture (grapegrowing) and Enology (winemaking). In addition to the classroom spaces, there will be a commercial scale teaching winery. In this winery, students of Umpqua Community College will be able to work with equipment and facilities that replicate the commercial wineries found throughout Southern Oregon. It is our intention to make commercial lots of wine with our students so that when they graduate, they will be able to rapidly fill the need for a trained workforce in the regional wine industry.

Learning How To Graft

I am grateful for the students who have already completed their degrees in Viticulture and Enology at UCC. Many of them have already found positions in the wine industry. One of the first students to complete the degree, Sandra Glaser, has even opened her own winery – Glaser Estate Winery. Student are able to participate in the program, currently without a building to hold classes in, because the courses are delivered in an online/hybrid method. Lecture material is presented to students online, in weekly increments and the lab periods are conducted face-to-face on weekends. The labs begin on campus with a discussion of the lecture material but then we leave campus to head out to a local vineyard or winery. Henry Estate Winery is one of the favorite lab sites for students. Scott Sr. always engages the students in an active discussion of the best ways to farm grapes in the Umpqua and Scotty give the students a through explanation of the process of making wine.

The Southern Oregon Wine Institute is growing rapidly and that growth is a result of the support of our local wine industry. I want to especially recognize the contributions of Henry Estate Winery in helping to develop SOWI and champion it's purpose when the Institute was in its formative years. The winery and the family have always believed in the vision for the Institute and continue to be a great supporters of the Southern Oregon Wine Institute. It is a dream come true.

Chris Lake
Director
Southern Oregon Wine Institute