Oenology (also enology; ) is the science and study of

wine Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are m ...

and

winemaking Winemaking or vinification is the production of wine, starting with the selection of the fruit, its fermentation into alcohol, and the bottling of the finished liquid. The history of wine-making stretches over millennia. The science of wine and ...

. Oenology is distinct from

viticulture Viticulture (from the Latin word for ''vine'') or winegrowing (wine growing) is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. It is a branch of the science of horticulture. While the native territory of ''Vitis vinifera'', the common grape vine, ran ...

, which is the science of the growing, cultivation, and harvesting of

grape A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus ''Vitis''. Grapes are a non- climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters. The cultivation of grapes began perhaps 8,000 years ago, ...

s. The English word oenology derives from the Greek word ''oinos'' ( οἶνος) "wine" and the suffix ''–logia'' ( -λογία) the "study of". An oenologist is an expert in the science of wine and of the arts and techniques for making wine.

Education and training

University programs in oenology and viticulture usually feature a concentration in science for the degree of

Bachelor of Science A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University of ...

(B.S, B.Sc., Sc.B), and as a terminal master's degree — either in a scientific or in a research program for the degree of

Master of Science A Master of Science ( la, Magisterii Scientiae; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree in the field of science awarded by universities in many countries or a person holding such a degree. In contrast to ...

(M.S., Sc.M.), e.g. the

master of professional studies Master or masters may refer to: Ranks or titles * Ascended master, a term used in the Theosophical religious tradition to refer to spiritually enlightened beings who in past incarnations were ordinary humans *Grandmaster (chess), National Master ...

degree. Oenologists and viticulturalists with doctorates often have a background in

horticulture Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of plant cultivation. It includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds and no ...

plant physiology Plant physiology is a subdiscipline of botany concerned with the functioning, or physiology, of plants. Closely related fields include plant morphology (structure of plants), plant ecology (interactions with the environment), phytochemistry (bi ...

, and

microbiology Microbiology () is the scientific study of microorganisms, those being unicellular (single cell), multicellular (cell colony), or acellular (lacking cells). Microbiology encompasses numerous sub-disciplines including virology, bacteriology, prot ...

. Related to oenology are the professional titles of ''

sommelier A sommelier ( or or ; ), or wine steward, is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, normally working in fine restaurants, who specializes in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food pairing. The role of the wine steward in hau ...

'' and

master of wine Master of Wine (MW) is a qualification (not an academic degree) issued by The Institute of Masters of Wine in the United Kingdom. The MW qualification is generally regarded in the wine industry as one of the highest standards of professional knowle ...

, which are specific certifications in the

restaurant A restaurant is a business that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services. Restaurants vary greatly in appearan ...

business and in

hospitality management Hospitality management may refer to: *Hospitality industry *Hotel manager A hotel manager, hotelier, or lodging manager is a person who manages the operation of a hotel, motel, resort, or other lodging-related establishment. Management of a hote ...

. Occupationally, oenologists usually work as winemakers, as wine chemists in commercial laboratories, and in oenologic organisations, such as the

Australian Wine Research Institute The Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) is a research institute with a focus on Australian wine, based in Adelaide, South Australia. Location It is based at the Wine Innovation Cluster, situated in the Waite Research Precinct, in the Adela ...

Australia

Schools in Australia tend to offer a "bachelor of viticulture" or "master of viticulture" degree. *

Charles Sturt University Charles Sturt University is an Australian multi-campus public university located in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Victoria. Established in 1989, it was named in honour of Captain Charles Napier Sturt, a British explorer w ...

- Wagga Wagga, New South Wales *

Curtin University of Technology Curtin University, formerly known as Curtin University of Technology and Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT), is an Australian public research university based in Bentley, Perth, Western Australia. It is named after John Curtin, ...

- Perth, Western Australia *

Melbourne Polytechnic/La Trobe University Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a metro ...

- Melbourne Australia * Queensland College of Wine Tourism - Stanthorpe, Queensland *

University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide (informally Adelaide University) is a public research university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. The university's main campus is located on N ...

- Adelaide, South Australia

Brazil

Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Sul The Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Sul ( pt, Instituto Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, IFRS), or in full: Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Sul ( pt, link=no, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tec ...

- Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre, Feliz, Sertão, Canoas, Porto Alegre-Restinga, Caxias do Sul, Osório, Erechim, and Rio Grande *

Federal University of Pampa The Federal University of Pampa ( pt, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Unipampa) is a public university established in 2006 in the Southern region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Unipampa was created by Law 11640 of January 11, 2008 as the Fed ...

- Dom Pedrito Campus, Rio Grande do Sul

Canada

Brock University Brock University is a public research university in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. It is the only university in Canada in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, at the centre of Canada's Niagara Peninsula on the Niagara Escarpment. The university bear ...

- St. Catharines, Ontario

France

Official National Diploma of Oenology: *

Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse Toulouse Institute of Technology (also called National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse or INPT) is a French university cluster based in Toulouse, France, part of University of Toulouse. It was founded in 1969. The institute is composed of seven ...

- Toulouse *

Jules Guyot Institute Jules is the French form of the Latin "Julius" (e.g. Jules César, the French name for Julius Caesar). It is the given name of: People with the name *Jules Aarons (1921–2008), American space physicist and photographer *Jules Abadie (1876–195 ...

- Dijon *

University of Bordeaux The University of Bordeaux (French: ''Université de Bordeaux'') is a public university based in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. It has several campuses in the cities and towns of Bordeaux, Dax, Gradignan, Périgueux, Pessac, and Ta ...

- Bordeaux *

University of Montpellier I The Montpellier 1 University (''Université Montpellier 1'') is a French university, in the Academy of Montpellier. It is one of the three successor universities to the University of Montpellier following the split in 1970. In January 2015, Mont ...

- Montpellier *

University of Reims The University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne (; URCA), also known simply as the University of Reims, is a public university based in Reims, France. In addition to the main campus in Reims, the university has several campuses located throughout t ...

- Reims Other wine diplomas: *

Université de Bourgogne The University of Burgundy (french: Université de Bourgogne, uB; formerly known as ''Université de Dijon'') is a public university located in Dijon, France. The University of Burgundy is situated on a large campus (more than 150 ha) in the east ...

- Dijon * Université du Vin - Suze-la-Rousse

Germany

Hochschule Geisenheim University ' (, plural: ') is the generic term in German for institutions of higher education, corresponding to ''universities'' and ''colleges'' in English. The term ''Universität'' (plural: ''Universitäten'') is reserved for institutions with the right t ...

- Geisenheim

Israel

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI; he, הַאוּנִיבֶרְסִיטָה הַעִבְרִית בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם) is a public research university based in Jerusalem, Israel. Co-founded by Albert Einstein and Dr. Chaim Weiz ...

- Rehovot

Italy

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (English: ''Catholic University of the Sacred Heart'', colloquially the ''Catholic University of Milan''), known as UCSC or UNICATT or simply Cattolica, is an Italian private research university founded in 19 ...

br>
- International Vintage Master - Piacenz

*

University of Bologna The University of Bologna ( it, Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna, UNIBO) is a public research university in Bologna, Italy. Founded in 1088 by an organised guild of students (''studiorum''), it is the oldest university in continuo ...

- Cesena *

University of Padua The University of Padua ( it, Università degli Studi di Padova, UNIPD) is an Italian university located in the city of Padua, region of Veneto, northern Italy. The University of Padua was founded in 1222 by a group of students and teachers from B ...

- Conegliano *

University of Palermo The University of Palermo ( it, Università degli Studi di Palermo) is a university located in Palermo, Italy, and founded in 1806. It is organized in 12 Faculties. History The University of Palermo was officially founded in 1806, although its ...

- Marsala *

University of Perugia University of Perugia (Italian ''Università degli Studi di Perugia'') is a public-owned university based in Perugia, Italy. It was founded in 1308, as attested by the Bull issued by Pope Clement V certifying the birth of the Studium Generale. Th ...

- Perugia *

University of Salento The University of Salento ( it, Università del Salento, called until 2007 ''Università degli Studi di Lecce'') is a university located in Lecce, Italy. It was founded in 1955 by Giuseppe Codacci Pisanelli. The university of Salento commenced act ...

- Lecce *

University of Trento The University of Trento (Italian: ''Università degli Studi di Trento'') is an Italian university located in Trento and nearby Rovereto. It has been able to achieve considerable results in didactics, research, and international relations accor ...

Edmund Mach Foundation The Edmund Mach Foundation, formerly the ''Istituto Agrario di San Michele all’Adige'' (IASMA), is an agrarian institution and Italian wine, wine academy located in Trentino in north-east Italy. It was founded in 1874, when the Tyrolean Diet (as ...

- Trento, San Michele all'Adige *

University of Udine The University of Udine (Italian ''Università degli Studi di Udine'') is a university in the city of Udine, Italy. It was founded in 1978 as part of the reconstruction plan of Friuli after the earthquake in 1976. Its aim was to provide the Friul ...

- Udine *

University of Verona The University of Verona ( it, Università degli Studi di Verona) is a university located in Verona, Italy. It was founded in 1982 and is organized in 12 Departments. According to business newspaper ''Il Sole 24 Ore'', it is ranked as the best no ...

- Verona

New Zealand

Eastern Institute of Technology The Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) is a government owned tertiary education institution with three campuses: Hawke’s Bay, Auckland, and Gisborne, New Zealand. It is also referred to as EIT Hawke's Bay, EIT Tairāwhiti, and EIT Auckland ...

- Hawke's Bay * Lincoln University - Christchurch
University of Auckland-
Auckland

Peru

Universidad Privada San Juan Bautista Universidad Privada San Juan Bautista is a private university in the city of Lima, Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the Stat ...

- Ingeniería en Enología y Viticultura - Lima, Ica, Chincha

Portugal

Universidade do Porto The Universiade is an international multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The name is a portmanteau of the words "University" and "Olympiad". The Universiade is referred t ...

- Porto *

University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro The University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD; Portuguese: ''Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro'') is a public university located in the north-eastern city of Vila Real, Portugal. It became a public university in 1986, althoug ...

- Vila Real *

Universidade de Évora The Universiade is an international multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The name is a portmanteau of the words "University" and "Olympiad". The Universiade is referred t ...

- Évora

South Africa

University of Stellenbosch Stellenbosch University ( af, Universiteit Stellenbosch) is a public research university situated in Stellenbosch, a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Stellenbosch is the oldest university in South Africa and the oldest extant ...

- Stellenbosch

Slovenia

University of Nova Gorica The University of Nova Gorica, UNG ( sl, Univerza v Novi Gorici), is the fourth university in Slovenia. It is located in the towns of Nova Gorica, Gorizia (in Italy), Vipava, and Ajdovščina. History The University of Nova Gorica grew out of ...

- School for viticulture and enology - Vipava

Switzerland

Changins Agroscope is the Swiss Confederation's center of excellence for agricultural research and is affiliated with the Federal Office for Agriculture, which is subordinate to the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research. Agrosco ...

- Nyon

Spain

Universitat Rovira i Virgili University of Rovira i Virgili ( ca, Universitat Rovira i Virgili; , es, Universidad Rovira y Virgili; URV) is located in the Catalan cities of Tarragona and Reus, Spain. Its name is in honour of Antoni Rovira i Virgili. The University of Ro ...

- Tarragona *

Universidad de La Rioja The University of La Rioja (UR) is a public institution of higher education based in Logroño, La Rioja, Spain. Inaugurated during 1992-1993 from various existing schools and colleges, it currently teaches Grades 19 adapted to the European High ...

- La Rioja *

Universidad de Cádiz Universidad (Spanish for "university") may refer to: Places * Universidad, San Juan, Puerto Rico * Universidad (Madrid) Football clubs * Universidad SC, a Guatemalan football club that represents the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala ...

- Cádiz, Andalusia

Ukraine

National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine The National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine ( uk, Національний університет біоресурсів і природокористування України) is a leading public university in the fi ...

- Kyiv *

National University of Food Technologies The National University of Food Technologies is a Ukrainian university located in Kyiv, Ukraine. Campus The campus includes eight buildings. Building "A" hosts the University administration section, Assembly Hall, Academic Council Hall, Dean o ...

- Kyiv *

Odessa National Academy of Food Technologies Odesa National Academy of Food Technologies (ONAFT) is a public HEI with the highest level of accreditation. It was established in 1902 and today is a modern innovative scientific center for training of high qualified personnel. ONAFT is a multi ...

- Odessa

United Kingdom

Plumpton College Plumpton College is a Further and Higher education college in Plumpton, East Sussex, England, with courses in a variety of land based and related subjects. The college provides a range of full-time and part-time land-based courses, FE courses to ...

- East Sussex

United States

Allan Hancock College Allan Hancock College is a public community college in Santa Maria, California. History In 1920 Allan Hancock College was started by the Santa Maria High School District. Originally called Santa Maria Junior College, classes were held until ...

- Santa Maria, California *

California Polytechnic State University California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (California Polytechnic State University, Cal Poly"Cal Poly" may also refer to California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt in Arcata, California or California State Polytechnic Univ ...

- San Luis Obispo, California *

Colorado State University Colorado State University (Colorado State or CSU) is a public land-grant research university in Fort Collins, Colorado. It is the flagship university of the Colorado State University System. Colorado State University is classified among "R1: ...

- Fort Collins, Colorado *

Cornell University Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to teach an ...

- Ithaca and Geneva, New York *

Finger Lakes Community College Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) is a public community college in Canandaigua, New York. It is affiliated with the State University of New York and sponsored by Ontario County. The main campus is just east of the City of Canandaigua, with ...

- Canandaigua and Geneva, New York *

Fresno State University California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) is a public university in Fresno, California. It is one of 23 campuses in the California State University system. The university had a fall 2020 enrollment of 25,341 students. It offers bache ...

- Fresno, California *

Grayson College Grayson College is a public community college in Grayson County, Texas. The main campus is in Denison, Texas, Denison and it has branch campuses in Denison (west extension, at the site of the old Perrin Air Force Base) and Van Alstyne, Texas, V ...

- Grayson, Texas *

Kent State Kent State University (KSU) is a public research university in Kent, Ohio. The university also includes seven regional campuses in Northeast Ohio and additional facilities in the region and internationally. Regional campuses are located in Ash ...

- Kent, Ohio *

Miami University Miami University (informally Miami of Ohio or simply Miami) is a public research university in Oxford, Ohio. The university was founded in 1809, making it the second-oldest university in Ohio (behind Ohio University, founded in 1804) and the 10 ...

- Oxford, Ohio *

Napa Valley College Napa Valley College, formerly Napa Junior College and Napa Community College, is a public community college in Napa, California. The tree-lined main campus is on overlooking the Napa River and includes a performing arts center, a child develop ...

- Napa, California *

Oregon State University Oregon State University (OSU) is a public land-grant, research university in Corvallis, Oregon. OSU offers more than 200 undergraduate-degree programs along with a variety of graduate and doctoral degrees. It has the 10th largest engineering co ...

- Corvallis, Oregon *

Patrick & Henry Community College Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC or Patrick & Henry) is a public community college in Henry County, Virginia. It was founded in 1962 as part of the University of Virginia's School of General Studies. The college became an independent tw ...

- Henry County, Virginia *

Paul Smith's College Paul Smith's College is a private college in Paul Smiths, New York. Paul Smith's College offers associate and bachelor's degrees. Its 14,000-acre campus is one of the largest college campuses in the world. Approximately 1,000 students attend ...

- Paul Smiths, New York *

Sonoma State University Sonoma State University (SSU, Sonoma State, or Sonoma) is a public university in Rohnert Park in Sonoma County, California, US. It is one of the smallest members of the California State University (CSU) system. Sonoma State offers 92 Bachelor's d ...

- Sonoma, California *

Surry Community College Surry Community College is a public community college in Dobson, North Carolina. Founded in 1964, it is part of the North Carolina Community College System and services Surry and Yadkin Counties. Surry Community College offers thirty-six are ...

- Dobson, North Carolina *

University of California, Davis The University of California, Davis (UC Davis, UCD, or Davis) is a public land-grant research university near Davis, California. Named a Public Ivy, it is the northernmost of the ten campuses of the University of California system. The institut ...

- Davis, California *

University of Missouri The University of Missouri (Mizzou, MU, or Missouri) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus Universit ...

- Columbia, Missouri *

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Virginia Tech (formally the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and informally VT, or VPI) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. It also has educational facilities in six regi ...

(Virginia Tech) - Blacksburg, Virginia *

Washington State University Washington State University (Washington State, WSU, or informally Wazzu) is a public land-grant research university with its flagship, and oldest, campus in Pullman, Washington. Founded in 1890, WSU is also one of the oldest land-grant unive ...

- Pullman, Washington *

Yavapai College Yavapai College is a public community college in Yavapai County, Arizona. The main campus is in Prescott, with locations in Clarkdale, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley and Sedona. History Yavapai College was established in 1965 by means of a c ...

- Clarkdale, Arizona

Prominent oenologists

Alberto Antonini Alberto Antonini (born 10 June 1959) is an Italian oenologist and grower-producer and a consultant to a large number of wineries in various countries including Italy, the U.S., Argentina, Canada, Chile, Uruguay, Armenia and Australia. Career Alb ...

Miguel Brascó Miguel Brascó (14 September 1926 – 10 May 2014) was an Argentine writer, poet and translator, humorist, cartoonist, editor, critic who is a specialist in wine and gourmet Gourmet (, ) is a cultural idea associated with the culinary arts of ...

Cathy Corison Cathy Corison is an American winemaker, entrepreneur and consultant. She specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon. Corison was the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' Winemaker of the Year in 2011. Personal life and education Cathy Corison grew up in Riversi ...

Tullio De Rosa Tullio De Rosa (1923–1994) was an Italian enologist.Tullio De Rosa ...

Peter Gago Peter Gago (born 25 April 1957) is a British-Australian winemaker and author. Gago has been chief winemaker at Penfolds and custodian of Penfolds Grange since 2002, the most iconic Australian wine. Early life Gago was born in Newcastle, Englan ...

Emma Gao Emma Gao is a Chinese oenologist, who is the chief winemaker at Silver Heights winery, one of China's most prestigious vineyards. Biography Born in China, Gao moved to France in 1999, aged 21, to study oenology at the University of Bordeaux, wh ...

Hermann Jaeger Hermann Jaeger (March 23, 1844 – c. May 17, 1895) was a Swiss-American viticulturist, honored as a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor for his part in saving the French wine industry from the phylloxera root louse pest. Early life Hermann Ja ...

Max Léglise Max Léglise (1924–1996) was a French oenologist. Most of his career was spent working at the ''Station œnologique de Bourgogne'' ( INRA, Beaune), where he entered in 1948, and that he directed from 1962 to 1984. Departing from the dominant co ...

Zelma Long Zelma R. Long (born 1945) is an American enologist and vintner. She is considered to be one of the female pioneers in California wine, and was the first woman to assume senior management of a Californian winery, Simi Winery, of which she was presi ...

Justin Meyer Justin Meyer (born Raymond Meyer, 11 November 19386 August 2002) was an American vintner, enologist, and monk of the Christian Brothers. He was the founder along with Raymond Twomey Duncan of Silver Oak Cellars in 1972, a successful winery based ...

Hermann Müller (Thurgau) : ''For other Hermann Müllers: see Hermann Müller (disambiguation).'' Hermann Müller (21 October 1850 in Tägerwilen, Thurgau, Switzerland – 18 January 1927, in Wädenswil, Zurich), was a Swiss botanist, plant physiologist, oenologist an ...

Ottavio Ottavi 230px, Ottavio Ottavi. Ottavio Ottavi (15 August 1849 – 12 January 1893) was an Italian oenologist. Biography Ottavi was born in Sandigliano. His father Giuseppe Antonio Ottavio was an agronomist, and his brother Edoardo, editor of the journal ...

Jacques Puisais Jacques Puisais (8 June 1927 – 6 December 2020) was known worldwide as a French oenologist and taste philosopher. Life and career Puisais was born in Poitiers, France, on 8 June 1927. He held a PhD in chemistry, and directed the ''Laboratoire D� ...

Michel Rolland Michel Rolland (born December 24, 1947) is a Bordeaux-based oenologist, with hundreds of clients across 13 countries and influencing wine style around the world. "It is his consultancies outside France that have set him apart from all but a handful ...

Carol Shelton Carol Shelton is an American winemaker and entrepreneur. She has been called the most awarded winemaker in America and was the '' San Francisco Chronicle's'' Winemaker of the Year in 2005. Personal life and education Shelton was raised in Roche ...

Păstorel Teodoreanu Păstorel Teodoreanu, or just Păstorel (born Alexandru Osvald (Al. O.) Teodoreanu; July 30, 1894 – March 17, 1964), was a Romanian humorist, poet and gastronome, the brother of novelist Ionel Teodoreanu and brother in law of writer Ștefana Ve ...

Miguel A. Torres Miguel A. Torres (born 1941) is a Spanish winemaker, author and businessman. He is President and Managing Director of Bodegas Torres, and is a member of the fourth generation of this family business. He also manages the company’s vineyards in Ch ...

* Keith Wallace

References

External links

Website of the Œnology and Viticulture department of the University of California at Davis

Oenologist.com - online resource about wine and professionals in the wine industry

VinoEnology.com - online wine-making calculators and resource about wine and professionals in the wine industry

Glossary of Terms for Enology, Viticulture and Winemaking
CCwinegroup.com, 2009 (PDF) {{Authority control