Linfield University
Nestled in the heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley wine country, Linfield University in McMinnville has carved out a unique niche in wine education. As one of the few liberal arts institutions in the United States offering a full academic program devoted to wine, Linfield blends interdisciplinary coursework with hands-on industry experience. Its Evenstad Center for Wine Education—launched in 2011 with a $6 million gift from Grace and Ken Evenstad of Domaine Serene—has become a hub for students seeking careers in wine business, communications, and cultural studies.
A Broad-Based Wine Curriculum
Linfield’s Wine Studies program offers both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees, with emphases ranging from wine marketing and hospitality to history, geography, and sensory analysis. Students explore the world of wine through a liberal arts lens, taking courses such as “Wine and Religion,” “Oregon Pinot Noir,” and “Wine Ethics.” The curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking and storytelling—key skills in an industry built on place and provenance.
Coursework includes marketing, sustainability, communication, and wine production, alongside field-based learning in Oregon’s vineyards and tasting rooms. While the program does not offer a bonded winery or rigorous enology track, students regularly intern with leading producers like Domaine Serene, Stoller Family Estate, and Willamette Valley Vineyards.
Admissions and Academic Culture
Students enter the Wine Studies program after completing Linfield’s general education core, with most applicants presenting a GPA around 3.5. The university is test-optional and maintains a small, undergraduate-focused learning environment. Roughly 60 students are enrolled in Wine Studies at any given time—most are traditional-age college students seeking careers in wine marketing, distribution, hospitality, or education.
Faculty, Industry Links, and Reputation
The program benefits from top-tier faculty, including Dr. Greg Jones, a global authority on climate change and viticulture, and Ellen Brittan, a seasoned consultant with deep industry ties. Linfield is also home to the Oregon Wine History Archive, an invaluable academic and professional resource documenting the state’s wine evolution.
Graduates of the program are praised for their strong communication skills and cultural fluency—qualities that make them well-suited for roles in public relations, tasting room leadership, and educational outreach. While the program lacks the scientific depth of traditional viticulture and enology degrees, it offers a broader cultural and business perspective rooted in the liberal arts.
Strengths and Limitations
✔ Strengths
Strong academic reputation in a wine-rich region.
Courses reflect the terroir, ethics, and sustainability of Oregon wine.
Valuable industry internships and partnerships.
✘ Limitations
No bonded teaching winery or formal science track.
Higher tuition than public college alternatives.
The Oregon Advantage
Situated in the Willamette Valley AVA, Linfield’s program draws directly from the regional identity of Oregon wine. The curriculum emphasizes sustainability and Pinot Noir heritage, while its network of industry partners ensures students are immersed in the realities of the local wine trade.
Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and affiliated with the American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV), Linfield’s Wine Studies program is both academically rigorous and regionally grounded.
For students seeking a wine career that blends cultural insight, communication skills, and real-world experience—without donning a lab coat—Linfield offers a compelling alternative to traditional enology degrees.