The Vineyard Site

Online

Learn how vineyard soil and soil chemistry impact grapevine performance. Designed for vineyard owners, vineyard managers and workers, winemakers, enologists and aspiring vineyard professionals, this online course focuses on the importance of soil in a commercial winegrape vineyard. Learn about macro and microclimate, terroir and the choice of cultivars for particular sites. In the final weeks of the course, you’ll look at best practices for establishing a new vineyard, including soil preparation, vineyard layout and other factors to be considered. By the end of the course, you’ll understand how climate impacts grape growing worldwide, how physical and chemical soil characteristics impact water and nutrient movement, and how to utilize cover crops on the vineyard floor.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply the principles of soil chemistry to design a soil nutrition program for a vineyard
  • Implement your knowledge of water monitoring and soil characteristics to design an irrigation program for a vineyard
  • Identify appropriate cover crops for specific vineyard applications
  • Develop a timeline and steps for establishing a new vineyard

Skills You Will Gain

  • How to design a soil nutrition and irrigation program for a vineyard
  • Appropriate use of cover crops for vineyards
  • Best practices for establishing a new vineyard
Academic Units
3
Section Number
252VTC402
Instruction Method
Online class

Section Notes

Access to your course in Canvas will be available 7 days before the course start date.

Enrollment Policies

Drop requests (withdraw with a refund) will be approved, less a $30 processing fee, if the request is received within 14 calendar days of the course start date. Click here to view complete enrollment policy information including details on withdrawals and transfers.

Refund Deadline: 10/06/2025. Refunds and/or enrollment transfers will not be approved after this date. 

Students enrolling after the first day of class are expected to reach out to their instructors to make sure they receive all content and are on track with the course. 

Technical Requirements

To ensure your success in this course, please review our technical requirements page at online learning.

Discounts

Info Session Discount

Attendees of UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education Information Sessions may be eligible for $100 discount on a class by entering the Coupon Code provided at the Information Session.  Contact UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education Student Services office, at (800) 752-0881, if you have questions about this discount.