Like wine itself, a career in the wine industry is made through harmony and complexity, and both are created by design. Committed to this ideology is Sonoma State's Wine Business Institute (WBI), an education and research center in the School of Business and Economics with the only undergraduate and master's programs of their kind in the country.  Ray Johnson joined SSU as Director of the WBI in 2010 and will be retiring in May 2024. He was promoted to Executive Director in 2016 after overseeing the construction and opening of the Wine Spectator Learning Center on campus. Under his leadership, the WBI Board of Directors raised over $8 million to create the center. Considered an international leader in wine business education, Johnson said with the North Coast of California producing some of the best wine in the world, the WBI is poised to create student success. "We're in the major leagues here. Consequently, if you get your footsteps into this area, then you'

The Wine Business Institute (WBI) at Sonoma State University (SSU) announced the 2023-2024 scholarship recipients of the Wine Industry Scholars Program (WISP) and the Wine Business Institute Inclusive Excellence Scholarship Program February 26. Recipients are recognized for having outstanding commitment to advancing their knowledge and expertise in the wine business. The Wine Industry Scholars Program (WISP) supports the access, retention, and graduation of students who are first-generation college students and children of families working in the wine industry. WISP awards approximately $150,000 in scholarships annually. The Wine Business Institute Inclusive Excellence Scholarship Program aims to foster a more diverse and inclusive wine industry by supporting a broad range of scholars, including women, individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds and those requiring financial support for their education. “This year’s recipients went through a rigorous sel

Sonoma State University’s (SSU) Wine Business Institute (WBI) announces the launch of A Report on the Wine Industry Today, offering a fresh perspective on the current landscape, the opportunities and the challenges facing wine industry leaders in 2023. Faculty contributors to the inaugural issue include Economics Professors Chong Kim and Rob Eyler along with Wine Business Professor InHaeng Jung. Contributing Board Members include Jay Johnson, President, RNDC West Region at Republic National Distributing Company, Ed Adams, Vice President, Capital Markets Group at American AgCredit and Gary Heck, President & Chairman of Korbel Champagne Cellars. “While this year has been a challenging one for the wine industry, there are bright spots and companies who are exploiting opportunities; our approach is to highlight success,” noted Ray Johnson, Executive Director of the Wine Business Institute. Johnson added, “The length of each issue will be deliberately brief,

Dr. Anisya Fritz  Sonoma State University’s (SSU) Wine Business Institute (WBI) announces the return of its highly acclaimed Wine Entrepreneurship Certificate program, led by renowned strategist Dr. Anisya Fritz. This eight-week certificate program aims to empower leaders in small wine enterprises with the tools for success, whether it’s launching a new product, starting a venture, or advancing a career in the wine industry. Participants will delve into key aspects of the wine business, including setting clear objectives, assessing emerging opportunities, leveraging strengths, building strong financial strategies, and exploring various profitability models. You’ll also benefit from valuable insights shared by industry experts with years of experience. “Dr. Fritz’s visionary work in advancing the field of innovation in the beverage and wine industries make her a true exemplar of the CSU Sonoma State University spirit and it is an honor to have her

Rohnert Park, CA – Wine Business Institute scholarship recipients were recently recognized at a virtual meeting with the WBI board of directors, donors, and School of Business and Economics leadership. A total of $44,150 was awarded to undergraduate and graduate winners, including Global Wine Executive MBA student Kelli Silva, trade relations specialist at Trinchero Family Estates; Wine Executive MBA students Caitlin Vartain, brand manager at WX Brands, Marcia Torres Forno, winemaker at Matanzas Creek, Fabian Jauregui, former account executive at Ferrero Rocher, and Emily Porter, business operations manager at Sonoma State University; Wine MBA student Fiona Fang; and undergraduate Wine Business Strategies students Gianna Lendino, wine reservationist at Gundlach Bundschu Winery, and Haddie Daner. Winners were selected based on accomplishments in the areas of academics, leadership, and community service. WBI scholarships are intended to offset tuition and educational expenses

Virtual event sees an 81 percent increase in attendees from 2019  Sonoma County, California – On July 15th, executives from wineries throughout California, from Antica Napa Valley in the north to Zaca Mesa in the south, joined the virtual Research Summit. The program featured Sonoma State University faculty and representatives from close stakeholders of the Wine Business Institute, including Rabo AgriFinance, Wine.com, Jackson Family Wines, and BPM. The Summit was followed by a private Q&A session that will be made available to registered attendees along with video recordings of all presentations. “Registration for the Summit was up 81 percent over the previous year,” said Ray Johnson, executive director of the Wine Business Institute in the School of Business and Economics at SSU. “Eighty-two percent of registrants attended; 17 percent higher than the average for virtual events. The virtual delivery made for easier access for attendees be

Rohnert Park, CALIFORNIA – The Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University has issued a new report estimating that the California economy will experience a loss of nearly $10 billion from a decline in revenues to the state’s vintners and growers because of COVID-19. California’s wine industry is projected to lose $4.22 billion in revenues in 2020, based on significant decreases in on-premise, tasting room, and direct sales, according to an analysis by Jon Moramarco of bw166 released in April. That analysis estimated a $5.9 billion revenue loss for the entire U.S. wine industry this year.  California wine’s role in the travel and hospitality sectors across the state creates economic connections to hundreds of other businesses, according to the SSU report, which measured lost business revenue based on direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts. In addition to forecasting a contraction of $9.6 billion in the California economy, the Sonoma State re