NORTH COAST, Calif. – “Viticulture Practices: Winegrowing for Mendocino and Lake Counties” will be offered this Spring 2016 semester by Mendocino College Agriculture Department as part of the new Viticulture Certificate Program.

Sustainable winegrowing principles and practices covered include pruning, training, frost protection, canopy management, grapevine water requirements and irrigation management, vine nutrition, soils, cover crops, integrated pest management (IPM), vineyard development, habitat conservation and enhancement, vine balance metrics and key practices affecting winegrape quality.

The Viticulture Practices course is one-hour of classroom lecture followed by three hours of hands-on vineyard experiences including field trips to nearby vineyards and wineries.

The course will make extensive use its own on-campus demonstration vineyard to enhance student learning with hands-on experiences.

The vineyard was established the summer of 2015 through the generosity of the Mendocino College Foundation, Inc.

The viticulture instructor is Paul Zellman, BS Viticulture UC Davis and MS Soil Science UC Riverside, who brings over 25 years of vineyard and winery experience in northern and southern California to the classroom and lab.

“Introduction to Viticulture,” offered in the Fall, and Viticulture Practices, form the core curriculum of the Viticulture Skill Certificate program designed to prepare students for careers in the North Coast wine industry.

The Viticulture Program develops students with: 1 – practical hands-on winegrowing skills; 2 – basic knowledge of the science involved in the growing of grapes; and, 3 – initial understanding of winegrowing business aspects.

The knowledge and skills gained from the Viticulture Skill Certificate program, together with job experience, will give individuals a competitive edge when applying for entry-level positions, and for current employees, the skills to advance to better paying vineyard and winery jobs.

The course (AGR112) runs Jan. 28 through May 26 and is held on Thursdays from 1:30 to 5:20 p.m. in Agriculture Department Room 6340.

For additional viticulture course or certificate program information, please contact either Jim Xerogeanes at 707-468-3218, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Paul Zellman at 707-621-2668, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .