Why Wine?

Wine is something that has been an integral part of family traditions for my entire life. My mother is obsessed with tradition and sentiment, and we would have Friday-night shabbat dinners every week with a blessing over wine as one of the crucial ingredients to starting off the meal. I never gave much attention to what was in the glass at a young age, instead taking pleasure out of drinking before I was legally of age. As I grew older, I began to ask more questions about the differences in what we were having, where it was from, etc - but still never gained the knowledge to fully appreciate and understand that there was much more to what I was drinking than just the liquid in the glass. I figure now is about as good a time as any to start figuring that out!

In the fall, my mother visited campus and we went to her favorite vineyard which happens to be up in Napa - Shafer Vineyards. We did a tasting and heard about the history of the vineyard as well as how they positioned themselves in the market. They also discussed a lower-cost brand that they created to explore new markets. I had never really thought about the wine as a business versus something that I had enjoyed every Friday night with family. When exploring course options, I was pleasantly surprised to see this listing and then began to think further about what I could learn by enrolling. In addition to expanding my knowledge of the basics of wine and gaining a deeper appreciation for new and varied bottles, there is much to be learned by studying the business principles of a global, ever-changing, and omni-present industry.