Sonoma State University's Wine Business Institute has announced the fall series of classes available in the Tasting Room Management Certificate Program.

"The classes offer practical guidance from industry professionals and cover a gamut of topics related to the customer's tasting room experience," noted Ray Johnson, Director of the Wine Business Institute.

Candidates for the Tasting Room Management Certificate are required to complete three core courses and five electives.  The program can be completed in one semester or at the participant's own pace.

The three topics covered by the core curriculum are Building a Profitable Wine Club Current and Upcoming Winery Compliance Issues (both on October 21), and Introduction to Tasting Room Management (October 28.  Electives reach beyond the tasting room to include successful selling to the trade and practical vineyard management from a business perspective.

 The following classes are offered during the fall of this year:

*       Building a Profitable Wine Club: October 21; 8am - Noon

*       Current & Upcoming Winery Compliance Issues: October 21; 1 - 5pm

*       Intro to Tasting Room Management: October 28; 8:30am - 12:30pm

*       Selling Wine to Restaurants & Retailers: November 4; 8am - Noon

*       Easy Ways to Successful Direct Marketing: November 4; 1 - 5pm

*       The Experts' Secrets to Selling Wine Grapes: November 18; 8am - Noon

*       Wine Marketing Basics-What Every Winery Should Know: November 18; 1 - 5pm

*       Practical Vineyard Management: December 2; 8am - Noon

*       Practical Strategies to Increase Wine Ecommerce Sales: December 2; 1 - 5pm

*       ReVision Your Customer Experience Management Program: December 9; 8am - Noon

*       Social Media and Wine Marketing: December 9; 1 - 5pm

These professional development courses are open to the public and may be taken individually.  There are no prerequisites and industry experience is not required.  The fee for each class is $150 and all are offered on the Sonoma State University campus.

For more information about this program, visit the Wine Business Institute online at Short Courses and Online Programs<http://www.sonoma.edu/sbe/wine-business-institute/professional-development/> (http://www.sonoma.edu/sbe/wine-business-institute/professional-development/) or contact Marcia Harrigan at 664-3011 to enroll now.