History

Since its inception with the planting of vineyards three decades ago, Cal Poly’s Wine and Viticulture department has evolved to become the largest of its kind in the United States. Rooted in Cal Poly’s renowned Learn by Doing tradition, the hands-on curriculum spans from the classroom and lab to the campus vineyard and pilot winery, preparing students for jobs in the California and worldwide wine industry.

Cal Poly Wine and Viticulture is renowned for its unique interdisciplinary learning experience encompassing lessons from three departments – Horticulture and Crop Science, Food Science and Nutrition, and Agribusiness – combining an understanding of grape cultivation, wine making and wine business. Upon graduation, students are industry-ready, having mastered fundamental and applied sciences, modern agribusiness principles, social science, grape cultivation, enology and wine business principles.