A milestone celebration turned into a historic moment for Oregon wine education. During Chemeketa Community College’s 25th anniversary celebration of its wine studies program, Chemeketa President Dr. Jessica Howard and Linfield University President Dr. Rebecca Johnson announced an articulation agreement between the two institutions. This agreement will create a seamless academic pathway for students entering the wine industry, allowing credits to transfer from one institution to the other.
The partnership offers students the opportunity to build a strong foundation understanding viticulture and enology at Chemeketa Community College and continue their education on wine business, marketing, and entrepreneurship at Linfield University. The agreement is a testament to the institute’s shared commitment to Oregon’s thriving wine economy by providing educational access and opportunities.
“Chemeketa Community College and Linfield University share the same goal, to not only bridge the gap for our students between technical training and advanced study, but to make higher education more accessible and achievable for a broader range of students,” said Dr. Howard. “It’s a powerful first step for the next generation of Oregon’s wine industry.”
The Wine Studies Program at Chemeketa Community College offers students a hands-on experience at Chemeketa’s 8-acre vineyard and winery. The program focuses on all aspects of wine, from grape to harvesting, chemistry, production and the selling of wine. Linfield University is highly respected for its forward thinking curriculum, being the first institution offering wine studies as a minor in 2016, and now offering graduate programs in wine business.
“Students will learn the art and science of growing grapes and making wine at Chemeketa. When they come to Linfield, they’ll take that foundation and build on it by learning how to run a successful wine business—from accounting and marketing to business planning and strategy,” said Dr. Johnson. “Making wine is fun, but knowing how to turn that passion into a thriving business is what truly sets them apart.”
As part of the celebration, Chemeketa proudly recognized individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the wine industry and wine studies program with the following awards:
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- Emerging Leader Award, Miguel Lopez, Red Dirt Vineyard Management & Winemaking and AHIVOY Co-Founder & Chair
- Legacy Builder Award, David Beck, Former Co-Owner with Jeanne Crawford Beck of Crawford Beck Vineyard and proud student of Al McDonald and Barney Watson
- Student Award, Mayra Flores, Winemaking Student
- Chemeketa Cellars Artist Series Competition, Christine Kennedy, Wine Studies Student at Chemeketa Community College.
Hundreds of people came to celebrate the 25th anniversary and 22 program alumni, now prominent figures in Oregon’s winemaking industry, poured their wines as well as current and former faculty with their own private labels. Wineries include A to Z Wineworks, Alumbra Cellars, Björnson Vineyard, Brooks Wine, Bryn Mawr Vineyards, Casa Luna Vineyard & Winery, Chemeketa Cellars, Cortell Collection, Dauntless Wine Cø., Durant Vineyards, Five Points Vineyard, Flora Jane Wine, heaVin Estate, Human Cellars, Illahe Vineyards, Lafayette and White Cellars, La Randonnée Wines, Landmass Wines, Luna Vineyard & Winery, Scenic Valley Farms, Sun Break Wines, Troon Vineyard and Terrapin Cellars.
In addition to the articulation agreement announcement, Chemeketa Community College is pleased to announce that the 2026 Sparkling Symposium will return on February 17–18, 2026, at the Northwest Wine Studies Center; more details are available at www.sparklingsymposium.com.
If Interested in learning more about Chemeketa’s Wine Studies Program or Linfield University’s undergraduate and graduate programs, visit www.chemeketa.edu and www.linfielduniversity.edu.
About Chemeketa Community College Wine Studies:
Located in the heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Chemeketa Community College Wine Studies program was founded in 2000. The Wine Studies program offers hands-on training to meet the present and future needs for skilled winemakers, cellar workers, vineyard managers, lab technicians and tasting room staff. The program operates its own vineyard, winery, and public tasting room—Chemeketa Cellars—on its Eola-Amity Hills campus, providing students with real-world experience from grape to glass.