Certificate ~ Frequently Asked Questions

The Certificate holds multiple benefits tailored to diverse types of individuals. For example:

• For lawyers, accountants, and financial planners, it equips you to attract wine industry clients, providing both expertise and a credential for marketing.
• Those aspiring to business and leadership roles in the wine industry can leverage the Certificate for career advancement.
• Early-career winemakers aiming to start their own winery benefit by gaining insights and understanding necessary for future planning.
• Seasoned professionals transitioning to part-time consulting in the alcohol industry also find value in pursuing the Certificate.

All courses are accessible to participants of varied backgrounds and levels of wine expertise. Depending on your own personal background, you may find some classes easier or harder than others. For example, the Wine Tasting 101 class is likely to be relatively easy for someone who is already a sommelier (but we hope it will still be entertaining!). The Constitutional Underpinnings of the Wine Industry course might be more challenging for that same person. Your Lead Instructors will always be available to help if you encounter anything that you’d like explained in more detail.

All courses in the Certificate program are available online, allowing you to progress at your own pace immediately upon enrollment. You do not have to attend any live classes. Structured as continuing education courses, each class offers approximately 45 minutes to 2 hours of lecture content, often presented in smaller video segments. Required background readings and a final graded assessment complement each class to gauge your understanding of the material. Completing the online coursework within a few months, even while working full-time, is feasible for those eager to finish the Certificate quickly. Alternatively, if you prefer a more relaxed approach, you have up to one year (365 days) to fulfill all requirements.

Enrolling in a module grants you access to a specific segment of the Certificate program as a standalone course. Opting for the complete Certificate program permits you to complete all four modules and receive a certificate at the program's conclusion (if completed within one year).

If you enroll in one module first and later decide that you want to complete all of the modules to earn the Certificate, you can do so! Just enroll in and complete all four modules, plus culminate with a final project of your choice, within one year to earn the Certificate in Wine Law and Business.

To earn the Certificate in Wine Law and Business, you will complete all four modules, as well as a Capstone project. For the Capstone, you can either attend an in-person wine event organized by Gonzaga University or choose from several other non-travel assignments that require you to network with your local wine community.

Gonzaga University organizes wine events that are an excellent opportunity to network with your fellow Certificate participants, the instructors, and other wine experts. Additionally, participants have the option of communicating with each other and the Lead Instructor on the online discussion board (not required for course completion). The Gonzaga Wine Institute regularly hosts local and virtual wine events for participants and program administrators. Past events have taken place in Napa, Portland, Walla Walla, and in Italy!