PREPARATION: To work as a WINEMAKER, you must:

have significant experience in winemaking, or at least a bachelor's degree in enology or viticulture;

be familiar with the many types of wines and wine grapes;

be able to taste and identify different wines;

be organized;

think and act quickly; and

have excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

EDUCATION AFTER HIGH SCHOOL:

There are many different paths for becoming a winemaker. Some people become a winemaker through a personal hobby. Others study winemaking in college or attend graduate school in the field. Yet others grow up on a winery. Regardless of the path, it is not easy to become a winemaker. Your "palette" or ability to taste wine must be superior. In addition, you must have significant experience in the field. Even those with a degree in enology or viticulture often work their way up at a winery before becoming a winemaker.

A variety of formal programs in enology are offered. At one end are the short, "do-it-yourself"-type courses at community colleges. At the other and are master's degrees. In general, employers prefer winemakers who have at least a bachelor's degree.

WORK EXPERIENCE: Some winemakers enter the field by working many years at a winery. They may have started out as a helper, assistant, or "cellar master." In general, to become the winemaker at a winery or vineyard, you must first prove yourself in related positions. THINGS TO KNOW:

The world of wine is quite complex. Several areas of the world are dedicated to growing and producing wines. These areas are all known for different types of wines. Within small regions great differences exist.

Sometimes winemakers also own the winery or vineyard they work at. This is not common, however.

Winemakers often know quite a bit of chemistry. This is because they must understand acidity and pH levels in order to make good wine.

Some winemakers enter the field because they were part of the restaurant world, where wine plays a big role.

This occupation is considered to be a new and emerging occupation. This is an occupation that is seeing an increase in demand. This means that job prospects could be favorable depending on your location. Please, be aware that emerging occupations differ slightly from the regular occupation files. The wage, employment, and outlook data that you see in the regular occupation files are not available for these new and emerging occupations.

Winemakers oversee the fermenting and bottling of several types of wine. They generally also supervise the harvest of the grapes.

Winemaking is both ancient it's one of the oldest "crafts" and simple to describe. Winemakers do just what the name says; they make wine. But the actual process is very complex.

Typically, winemaking begins with harvest. Grapes grown specifically for wine are picked, either by hand or machine. They are then crushed or chopped. This mixture, called "must," is prepared for fermentation (when the grape juice becomes wine). Various ingredients are added, usually yeast, sulfites, and sometimes water or sugar. Next, the mixture is heated. This mixture is left to sit for several days or longer so it can ferment, when the yeast turns the natural sugars into alcohol. After this period, the mixture often undergoes secondary fermentation and other key steps. Next, it is transferred to vats or barrels. Once the wine reaches this point, it must age for a period of time before it is ready to drink.

The winemaker oversees this entire process. The final product is what makes or breaks the winery or vineyard. The winemaker has to decide the perfect time to pick the grapes, how long it should ferment for, and how long it should be aged. Winemakers must also decide how many additives to put into the must. There are other decisions to make as well. For example, winemakers decide between oak or steel barrels. This is because each gives a different flavor and "mouth feel" to wine. Winemakers often taste samples of wines that have been aging to test their flavors. The winemaker is the person who decides when a wine is ready to be bottled. They then supervise the bottling process.

Because there are so many varieties of wine grapes, winemakers often specialize in one or two types of wine. This way they can focus on the characteristics that turn that grape into excellent wine. The list of grapes is long and includes varieties such as cabernet, merlot, syrah, pinot noir, and chardonnay.

Winemakers often supply the descriptions on wine bottles that tell buyers about the wine. For example, they may describe a chardonnay as buttery but not too "oak-y." This tells buyers that the wine wasn't stored too long in oak barrels. They may also participate in special winery or vineyard events, such as tours or dinners for special guests.