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Connect with Us: 707.664.3347 | winebiz@sonoma.edu | Wine Spectator Learning Center
Today’s wine industry is changing rapidly. More than simply meeting the industry’s needs, the Sonoma MBA in Wine Business —offered at both the Professional and Executive levels— is helping shape how the industry evolves within the demands of globalization, technology, and changing regulations.
Students are equipped with wine business knowledge and industry-specific tools and strategies to deliver results for organizations competing in today's global marketplace. Study alongside wine industry professionals and practitioners, from winemakers and viticulturists, to brand managers and distributors, to vineyard owners and winery executives.
The program is designed to elevate all students to their highest potential and our administrators make sure we have every tool and resource we need to succeed.
Felicia Prater '17, Sonoma Executive MBA in Wine Business | Founder & Chief Wino, The Urban Taste
"We're starting a wine business from the ground up, so I wanted to sharpen my overall knowledge with an MBA, while specifically studying the wine business. I now have so many different lenses with which to look at our business every day. Evening classes freed me to work hard alongside my family by day, experience amazing faculty who were ready to share their expertise, and study with some bright peers with whom I'll be in touch for the rest of my career."
George Hamel III '14, Sonoma MBA in Wine Business | Managing Director, Hamel Family Wines
"I chose the Sonoma Executive MBA in Wine Business at SSU to accelerate my career. It developed my big picture view – from finance and strategy to people development - and gave me the language to converse at the highest level. One of the best outcomes was evaluating my leadership style and learning how to enhance those traits to truly succeed in working with high performing teams."
Shannon Donnell '14, Sonoma Executive MBA in Wine Business | Grower Relations & Vineyard Operations Manager, Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards
“I was given the tools to align my business plan with my mission and vision, and grow a network of wine industry professionals. The instructor’s passion and desire for our success was the push I needed to launch my own wine label. It wouldn’t have happened without this program."
Tim Burgess '14/'16, Certificate in Wine Business Entrepreneurship/Sonoma Executive MBA in Wine Business | Owner, Rally Point Wines
"The business of wine is multi-faceted and increasingly complex. And with some 130,000 brands in the marketplace, the wine industry is one of the most competitive industries on earth. The need to have talented people who are well-prepared to successfully navigate the complexities and challenges of the wine industry is more important than ever. The Wine Business Institute is the only program of its kind in the U.S. dedicated to developing future wine business leaders."
Alex Ryan, President & CEO, Duckhorn Wine Company | Wine Business Institute Board Member
Undergraduate & Professional Programs in Wine Business
B.S. in Business Administration, Concentration in Wine Business Strategies
Online Certificate in Wine Industry Finance & Accounting
Wine Spectator Learning Center
The Wine Spectator Learning Center, the home of the Wine Business Institute, is an education and industry hub designed around advanced-technology classrooms, a student commons and gardens, and a collaborative space for faculty and business leaders.
Thank you to everyone who made this building possible!
