TEXAS WINE MARKETING RESEARCH INSTITUTE Wine Business Certificate

Fundamentals of Wine Business introduces an overview of essential business concepts for the wine industry, covering market trends, consumer behavior, marketing, branding, and strategic planning. The course helps current and aspiring wine professionals develop practical skills in areas like tasting room management, wine tourism, and marketing strategy while strengthening critical thinking and communication abilities.

CEUs: 3 | Format: Online Asynchronous | Cost: $695 | Duration: 8-week course

This course provides a practical overview of the legal and regulatory requirements involved in operating a winery or vineyard. Participants will explore licensing processes, compliance obligations, and reporting requirements related to the production, sale, and distribution of wine. The course emphasizes how to identify, interpret, and apply relevant laws within real-world business operations. Students will also be introduced to how AI-enabled tools can support regulatory research, documentation, and compliance tracking. By the end of the course, participants will have the knowledge and resources needed to confidently manage legal responsibilities in the wine industry.

CEUs: 3 | Format: Online Asynchronous | Cost: $695 | Duration: 8-week course

Digital Marketing and eCommerce explores modern digital marketing and e-commerce strategies used to grow wine businesses and build customer relationships. 

Topics include: 
• social media marketing
• email campaigns
• content creation
• customer engagement
• analytics, and 
• online store management. 

Students will learn how digital platforms shape consumer behavior and how to create effective marketing strategies in a competitive environment. The course also introduces the role of AI in personalizing marketing efforts, automating campaigns, and generating customer insights. Instruction is delivered through an interactive learning platform with lectures, readings, and applied assignments.

CEUs: 3 | Format: Online Asynchronous | Cost: $695 | Duration: 8-week course

This course introduces essential financial and accounting concepts tailored to the wine industry. Participants will learn how to interpret financial statements, manage budgets, apply cost analysis, and evaluate business performance. 

The curriculum focuses on practical decision-making rather than technical accounting processes and includes industry-specific considerations such as depreciation, compliance, and financing. Students will also be exposed to modern accounting tools, including AI-supported financial analysis and forecasting applications. The course prepares participants to make informed financial decisions in winery and wine business operations.

CEUs: 3 | Format: Online Asynchronous | Cost: $695 | Duration: 8-week course

The Tasting Room and Wine Club Management class offers a practical overview of building successful Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) wine programs. Designed for winery owners, entrepreneurs, and tasting room staff, it focuses on creating effective wine clubs, delivering engaging customer experiences, and strengthening sales and marketing efforts.

Key topics include:
• Customer segmentation and CRM use
• Staff training and team leadership
• Daily operations and event planning, and 
• Wine club design and development, with an emphasis on increasing revenue and operational efficiency. 

The course emphasizes understanding customer behavior, improving retention, and increasing conversions, helping participants grow revenue and build strong, lasting customer relationships. The course also highlights how AI tools can support customer segmentation, targeted communication, and sales optimization. Participants will gain practical skills to enhance both in-person and membership-based wine business operations.

CEUs: 3 | Format: Online Asynchronous | Cost: $695 | Duration: 8-week course

This new course introduces the fundamentals of data analysis, market research, and strategic decision-making in the wine industry, and focuses on how wine businesses can use their own data to make informed, strategic decisions.

Participants will learn how to collect, interpret, and apply data to improve vineyard management, production outcomes, and market performance. 

Topics include:

• consumer trends
• sales data analysis
• forecasting, and 
• competitive positioning

The course also provides a general introduction to how AI and data-driven tools can enhance insights, identify patterns; and how students can confidently use their own data to guide decision-making and support growth across wine business operations.

CEUs: 3 | Format: Online Asynchronous | Cost: $695 | Duration: 8-week course

The Wine Society of Texas offers scholarships to individuals committed to the Texas wine industry. Eligible applicants include:

• Students enrolled in Texas-based programs in viticulture, enology or related fields
• Individuals pursuing winery internships within Texas
• Those engaged in wine-related education, field study or research
• Professionals or students involved in grape growing, winemaking or wine industry promotion
• Applicants who demonstrate a clear commitment to advancing the Texas wine community through their goals and experience

Applications generally open in January and close in mid-March each year, with award decisions announced in April.

Wine Society of Texas Scholarship

The Texas Hill Country Wineries Scholarship Program supports students pursuing education that contributes to the growth and success of the Texas wine industry. Eligibility requirements include:

• Must be a Texas resident
• Must be enrolled in a school or college program
• Field of study must be related to and beneficial to the Texas wine industry

Applications generally open early in the year. Typical deadline is spring (commonly March–April), with awards announced in the following months. Applicants should verify exact dates with THCW each year, as timelines may vary.

Texas Hill Country Wineries

The Roots Fund empowers underrepresented communities within the wine and spirits industry to build successful careers through financial support, education, mentorship and career development, fostering long-term success in all aspects of the beverage industry.

What it covers:

• WSET® certification courses
• Court of Master Sommeliers programs
• Wine Scholar Guild and other certification training
• Mentorship, travel and career development

Eligibility:

• Must be a U.S. resident
• Must be actively working in the beverage/hospitality industry
• Must identify as underrepresented in the industry (core mission focus)
• Must intend to enroll in a wine or spirits certification program

Applications are offered multiple times per year (quarterly cycles).

The Roots Fund – Wine Industry Nonprofit

The Bridge Program is designed to support individuals entering the wine industry by providing financial assistance during the transition into a full-time role or internship. Awards help cover relocation expenses such as rent, moving costs and temporary housing, reducing financial barriers at the start of a wine industry career. Award amounts typically range from $500 to $5,000.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a current vineyard or winery employee
• Must have a full-time internship or job offer within the beverage industry
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Must demonstrate financial need related to transitioning into a new role
• Must submit a completed application including:
  • Resume
  • Essay (up to 700 words) describing career goals and industry impact

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and typically close early February. Contact: info@theveraisonproject.com.

Our Initiatives – The Veraison Project