At one time, before Prohibition, San Diego County led California in grape production. The industry was slow to recover from Prohibition and, after WWII, much of the vineyard land was lost to urban sprawl. The fires of 2007 also took a toll on the wineries of Ramona Valley. But the area is making a comeback now and county residents are showing a lot of interest in grape-growing. A recent viticulture demo at a nursery drew 150 people.

Now there is a program covering both viticulture and wine starting up in San Diego at Cuyamaca College. These classes complement the school’s existing horticultural programs. I think they’re a great value too.

The Basics of Growing Wine Grapes is a seven-session course. It will meet on Monday evenings at 6pm beginning on January 23. It will cover grape varieties, parts of the vine, rootstock, climate, geology, the seasonal cycle from bloom to veraison to harvest to winter dormancy, trellising and pruning, and vineyard practices for high quality grapes.

Wines of the World is a six-week survey of the world’s major wine regions and wines. You’ll learn the differences between Pinot Noir from Burgundy, California and Oregon, the Cabernet Sauvignon of Bordeaux and Napa Valley, etc. At the end of the class, you’ll know how to decode wine labels from different countries, make sense of wine lists and ask the right questions at wine shops. These classes meet on Wednesdays at 6pm starting on January 25.

The classes are taught by Donn Rutkoff. He’s been in the retail and wholesale wine business since 2002 where he represented hot California brands such as Staglin and Kosta Browne as well as the best of Burgundy, Germany and more. He has an MBA from San Francisco State and completed three years of study in viticulture and wine technology at Napa Valley College.

The courses are just $60 each (per course, not per session). Learn more about the classes at their Grossmont-Cuyamaca webpage. To register, call (619) 660-4350.

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