A group of people toast wine glasses.

Wine Institute Certificates

Program Overview

Gonzaga University’s Wine Institute is proud to offer the Certificate in Wine Law and Business and the Certificate in Wine Operations. In these programs, you'll explore the world of wine, its industry, and business or legal aspects through carefully curated materials and custom-made videos. Learn from top professionals in the industry - including wine-makers, sommeliers, chefs, winery owners, and wine law experts - in these fully online, self-paced courses.

What You'll Learn

  • Master wine history, tasting, and culinary pairing.
  • Understand wine industry fundamentals, from labels to regulations.
  • Develop the skills for wine business management.
  • Explore advanced wine law, from AVAs to brand protection.
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Enrollment Options

Recognizing that you may be interested in all topics or just a few, you can now select from the following options:

  • Option 1: Enroll in the full Certificate in Wine Law and Business ($2,399) or Certificate in Wine Operations ($2,399) and complete all the included modules within one year. Enroll now
  • Option 2: Enroll in any of the modules below as standalone courses:
    • Course 1: Vine to Table: Wine History, Tasting, and Culinary Pairing ($299) - History & Classification of Wine, Wine Tasting 101, Cooking & Pairing Food with Wine, and Tasting of Varietals from Women Winemakers. Enroll in Module 1
    • Course 2: Wine Industry Fundamentals ($599) - Wine Labels, Drafting & Negotiation of Wine Industry Contracts, Wineries and Water, and Advertising & Trade Practice Concerns, Constitutional Underpinnings of the Wine Industry, Wine Distribution in America, Federal and State Licenses, and Permits and Regulations. Enroll in Module 2
    • Course 3: Wine Business Fundamentals ($899) - Starting a Wine Business, Wine Clubs – Promise & Perils, Securities & Alternative Funding Models, Special Accounting Considerations in the Wine Industry. Enroll in Module 3
    • Course 4: Advanced Wine Law ($899) - AVAs and Geographical Indications, Protecting Brand Identity, Wineries as Event Spaces, Privacy & Data Security, Product Liability in the Wine Industry. Enroll in Module 4
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Details

  • Cost: $2,399 to complete the full Certificate in Wine Law and Business or the Certificate in Wine Operations, or enroll in standalone courses (prices above).
    • Gonzaga graduates receive a 10% discount.
  • Enrollment: Rolling admissions. No application required, enroll directly!
  • Format: Online and self-paced.
  • Duration: Complete the program requirements within one year (365 days) to earn one of the Certificates. Each module is 15-20 hours of work, including instructional videos and supplemental readings. The estimated amount of time to complete the course is 70 hours.
  • Eligibility: No requirements to enroll in individual courses. To enroll in the Certificate, we recommend at least 2 years of experience working in the wine industry or a wine-related business OR an undergraduate degree. A law degree is not required for enrollment.
  • Audience: The Certificate in Wine Law and Business is ideal for wine business owners and lawyers seeking to enhance their knowledge of wine law. The Certificate in Wine Operations was created to help employees in wine businesses advance in their industry and to provide the fundamentals for those seeking to start a new business in the alcohol industry.
  • Have more questions? Read responses to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Lead Instructors

While each of the courses features presentations by a variety of subject matter experts, you will be guided and supported by Professor Jessica Kiser, Director of the Gonzaga University Wine Institute and faculty member in the Gonzaga University School of Law.

How to Enroll

The Certificate in Wine Law and Business and its featured modules are open for enrollment! Simply select "Enroll Now" then choose the enrollment option you are most interested in:

  • To enroll in one of the full Certificates, select the "Enroll Now" button.
  • To enroll in an individual course, select the course you are interested in.

Once you complete the checkout process you will be automatically enrolled in the course and have immediate access to the course contents. You have one year from enrollment to complete the course.

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Contact Information

We welcome your questions! For more information, email the Gonzaga Center for Lifelong Learning at CLL@gonzaga.edu or call 509-313-5501.

Featured Instructors

Trinidad

John Trinidad

Instructor

John Trinidad is a partner at Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty, and is part of the firm’s Wine Law, Business, Alcohol Beverage, and Geographical Indications practice groups. John advises wine and alcohol beverage industry clients on a broad range of legal issues, including licensing, business contracts, and the purchase and sale of winery brands and assets. John also advises clients on federal and state alcohol beverage regulations such as franchise laws, tied-house laws, labeling requirements, and the protection and promotion of American Viticultural Areas. He is currently a lecturer at both the University of California-Berkeley School of Law and the University of California-Davis School of Law where he teaches a wine law class.

Ramey

Rachel Ramey

Instructor

Rachel Ramey is a Sr. Regulatory Compliance and Trademark Specialist at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Her responsibilities include reviewing advertising and promotional events for compliance with alcohol beverage laws and regulations. She developed a passion for Washington wines after living in the Walla Walla Valley to attend Whitman College. She went on to graduate from the University of Idaho College of Law and is a member of the Washington State Bar. She currently lives in Seattle and enjoys cooking, traveling, and hiking.

Ramey

Jacob H. Rooksby

Instructor

Jacob H. Rooksby is the Dean of Gonzaga University School of Law. An expert in intellectual property law and tort law, he currently leads Gonzaga's Business Innovation Clinic where he supervises students as they provide legal advice to small businesses, including some in the wine industry. Upon earning his J.D. from the University of Virginia, Dean Rooksby joined McGuireWoods LLP in Richmond, Virginia, practicing in the firm’s IP litigation group and as a member of its higher education practice team. In addition to his law degree, he also holds M.Ed. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Virginia. Licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, Dean Rooksby is an elected member of the American Law Institute and has completed post-graduate training in higher education leadership and management at Harvard University. An avid hiker, camper, and wine enthusiast, Dean Rooksby enjoys red wines from Bordeaux, Paso Robles, and the Red Mountain appellation in Washington.