Presented in partnership by Yakima Valley College and Winegrowers, the Winery Cellar Leadership Program (WCLP) is an industry educational program offering. The WCLP is intended for existing or prospective cellar leads who wish to further their career in the industry, already have experience, and are currently working at a winery. Through two different course levels, the WCLP with will focus on the cellar aspects of winemaking from the receipt of grapes until wine is in the bottle; leadership in a cellar environment; winery-specific math conversions and formulas; and basic computer skills.
The purpose of the WCLP is to provide access for the greater wine industry and students interested in viticulture and wine-related careers to a certified educational and professional development program. Those students that complete the program will be better trained to take leadership positions within the winery cellar team. The WCLP fulfills an industry-informed need: skilled and leadership-ready labor in the cellar.
Questions about registration? Email info@wawinegrowers.org
Questions about the program? Contact Professor Trent Ball (Yakima College) at tball@yvcc.edu
2025 Program Information
Winery Cellar Leadership Level 1—Crush to Barrel
Course Description:
In partnership with the Washington Winegrowers Association, Yakima Valley College is serving industry needs with new training for individuals in cellar production who wish to gain skills in leadership, winery related math conversions, and computer skills. Related cellar activities from Crush to Barrel will focus on the what, when, why, where and how of best-cellar-production practices that apply to a wide spectrum of operations.
Date: Every Wednesday, April 9 – May 28 (first class, Wednesday, April 9, 2025)
Time: 1:00pm-5:00pm
Certification Reception: Friday, May 30, Yakima Valley College, Grandview Campus
During this course, the student will:
- Evaluate, and identify, good leadership skills,
- Discuss and develop skills in successful communication,
- Develop skills in time management,
- Practice winery-related math conversions
- Practice computer skills
- Evaluate employee harassment and positive team building.
Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:
- Describe the winemaking process, activities and procedures from crush to barreling.
- Demonstrate application of cellar production math conversions.
- Demonstrate application of cellar production computer use
- Evaluate problem-solving strategies and apply leadership-based solutions.
Presented in partnership by Washington Winegrowers Association and Yakima Valley College
