Knowing your way around a wine cellar is critical in the restaurant and hospitality industries because it can be a key factor in profitability from both a customer-service and bottom-line business perspective. Wine studies can feed your passion for wine, cuisine and the company of other people.

As a wine expert, you will develop relationships with patrons and help them select the perfect food and wine pairing combinations. Becoming proficient in the fundamentals opens many doors in wine merchandising in industries ranging from hospitality, corporate and retail. The range and quality of wines available to vinophiles continues to expand; there are more new wine-producing regions than ever that are producing marvelous vintages to explore, experience and enjoy.

In addition to developing salesmanship, wine studies can teach you the skills you need to: select wine intelligently, know the alcohol content of certain varietals, share your knowledge of wine pairings with guests and other members of the staff, considerately suggest your selections to patrons, serve wine brilliantly and store it properly. It is vital that wine be kept at the right temperature to ensure that it is served at its peak with the precise taste it is intended to have. As you can see, there is a lot more to wine studies then just pouring wine.

There is no better time than now to pursue a wine studies education. Whether you prefer on-campus or online courses, there are programs available to you that provide the structure in which you can insightfully learn and evaluate the science of wine.

Whether you choose a career in the restaurant and hospitality industry or with a wholesale or retail wine-trading company, a degree or wine certification can get your foot in the door and help advance your career at a quicker pace. Many standard colleges and universities offer courses for a bachelor or associate's degree in wine studies. You can also obtain certification through a multitude of culinary schools.

Whatever approach you choose, the courses you will take are intense and designed to prepare students for a variety of positions in the wine industry. The education you obtain includes both the basic fundamentals and advanced studies in: how to grow grapes (viticulture), how to make wine, climate studies, soil types, grape varieties, wines from around the world, tasting practices to assess and evaluate the quality and character of wine, the protocol for price structures in the marketplace, and wine-related merchandising, marketing and public relations.

Some of the exciting job opportunities that a wine studies education can prepare you for include: a wine sales representative, restaurant or hotel manager and a sommelier, which is a restaurant employee who has extensive knowledge of food and wine pairings and is considered the resident wine expert  who buys the wine sold in the restaurant or hotel.

The United States is currently experiencing the largest increase in wine growth and the public's interest in wine in its history. There is an increasing demand for qualified professionals to keep up with the developments in this industry, so now is the time to take advantage of the opportunity to become a wine studies specialist. A career in the wine industry is demanding, but the rewards far outweigh the challenges.