While I wasn’t smart enough as a college freshman to think about majoring in wine (really, who knew you could do such a thing? :-), there are some high school students who heed the call to wine at that tender age.

For those that are lucky to know that they want to pursue a career in the wine industry so early, there are several world-renowned programs in which they might matriculate. These include the U.S.’s UC Davis (and as an alumna, I have to add, the newly launched program at Cornell), France’s Faculte d’Oenologie de Bordeaux and Germany’s Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute.

Joining the list of universities providing formal wine education, Central Washington University (CWU) has recently added a program in Global Wine Studies, with its first cohort of students graduating in Fall 2009, B.S. degree in hand. The program’s global emphasis makes it unique among any U.S. program and has an interdisciplinary nature combining business, marketing, economics, viticulture, winemaking and pricing. A certificate in wine trade is also offered.

Obviously, citizenship/location plays a big part of which institution a student chooses to attend. However, the location of these programs is not so accidental. Rather, they are located near or within great wine growing regions. As such, they serve as a valuable resource for the region and its wineries, providing research and a supply of well-qualified graduates.

While you may not have heard of Ellensburg, WA, it sits at the center of the Columbia Valley, making it easily accessible to all of Washington’s wine regions, with particular proximity to the Yakima Valley, Rattlesnake Hills and the Wahluke Slope. Please see the Washington Wine Commission’s site for an AVA map.

The establishment of the CWU program marks an important step for Washington’s wineries, signaling continued commitment and advancement in the state’s role as a wine producer. Moreover, as the U.S.’s second largest producer (California tops the list by far), the new program is definitely due.

With wine becoming more a part of the American culture, perhaps more students will begin to consider careers in wine when applying to colleges. But, of course, it is never too late to go back to school. Why not apply for next Fall?