Certificate of Viticulture – Wine Production

• Nature and scope of the viticulture industry both locally and world wide
• Global viticulture
• Major winegrowing areas around the world
• The grape; genera and species
• Rootstocks
• Classification of grape varieties
• Table grapes
• Wine grapes
• Dried fruit
• Juice grapes
• Canned grapes

• Suitable climate and soil conditions for vineyard site establishment
• Temperature; temperature calculations; latitude-temperature index and degree days
• Sunlight
• Rainfall
• Soil; soil types and wine regions; understanding soils; texture; characteristics; soil structure; chemical characteristics of soils including pH and nutrient levels
• Understanding plant nutrition
• Soil water content
• Simple soil tests; naming the soil
• Problems with soil; erosion; salinity; structural decline; soil acidification; chemical residues

• Appropriate grape varieties for different situations.
• Grape types
• Selection considerations
• Matching the variety with the site
• Varietal characteristics
• Selecting wine grapes
• Yeild
• Reviewing important varieties; chenin blanc; chardonnay; semillion; muscat ottonel; muscadelle; gewurztraminer; cabernet sauvignon; carignan
• Vitis rotundifolia
• Wine grapes; raisin grapes; juice grapes
• Importance of rootstocks
• Purchasing plants
• Phylloxera

• Procedure to establish a vineyard
• Vineyard planning
• Site planning
• Vineyard layout
• Site preparation
• Planting the vines
• Vine spacing
• Shelter belts
• Crop infrastructure
• Equipment

• Techniques used in the culture of grape vines
• Pruning and training vines
• Shoot spacing
• Bud numbers
• Vine spacing
• How much to prune
• Machine pruning
• Summer pruning
• Combination pruning
• Pruning sultana vines
• Trellising
• Trellis construction
• Guyot system
• Geneva double curtain system
• Head training
• Cordoning
• Kniffen systems
• Umbrella kniffen system
• Pergola training system

• Types of weeds
• Controlling weeds
• Safety proceedures when using agricultural chemicals
• Laws and guidelines
• Types of chemicals
• Weed management before planting
• Weed management in new vineyards
• Weed management in established vineyards
• Integrated pest management
• Pest control in vineyards
• Grape berry moth
• Grape mealy bug
• Grape leaffolder
• Grapevine rust mite
• Grape blossom midge
• Flea beetles
• Birds and arge animals
• Disease control in vineyards
• Fungal diseases; rots; mildew; eutypa dieback etc
• Bacterial diseases
• Viruses
• Organic culture of grapes; organic pest and disease control
• Companion plants
• Managing environmental problems including air, water, damage, frost, hail, wind and shade
• Water mangement; runoff; water saving
• Grape clones and varieties

• Irrigating and feeding grapes
• Excessive irrigation
• Seasonal effects of irrigation
• Drip irrigation
• Monitoring and timing
• Feasibility of irrigation
• Design considerations
• Soil and water
• Measuring water available to plants
• Calculating permanent wilting point
• Calculating field capacity of a vineyard
• Available moisture range
• Measuring air filled porosity
• Tensiometer
• Estimating water
• Rate of growth
• Climate
• Drainage in vineyards; improving subsoil and surface drainage; subsurface drainage
• Soil fertility; choice of fertilizer; timing of application; fertigation

• Ways to ensure or improve grape quality.
• Plant stock
• Crop management
• Post harvest impact on quality
• Improving flower and fruit set
• Second set
• Girdling
• Berry thinning

• Procedure for harvest and post-harvest treatment
• Harvesting
• Testing for ripeness
• Influence of weather
• Harvesting techniques
• Selling grapes
• Vineyard resume
• Selling grapes
• Marketing contracts
• Selling online
• Developing a marketing plan
• Advertising
• Market research
• Legal considerations with marketing

• Basic principles of wine making
• Overview of winemaking process
• Production principles
• Fermentation
• Making white wine
• Making red wine
• Methods

• Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
• Improve your employment opportunities;
• Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
• High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
• No entry requirements;
• All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
• Unlimited tutor support;
• Easy to understand course content;
• We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
• Certificate of Attainment/Completion issued for your CV (hard copy provided); and
• Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.

The approximate study hours for this course is 100 hours. We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply).

While printed materials are not available for purchase, PDF copies are available for download and self-printing for this program.

You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!

Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.

BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.

Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.

Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.

Yes! You will receive a Certificate of Attainment upon successful completion of your assessment.

No. All courses are delivered online via our e-learning system and there are no work placement requirements in this course.

Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.

Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.

Please be advised that you will need to purchase a soil testing kit to complete your assessment.