Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:20:30 +0000

And Walla Walla Community College was established in 1967, and in 2000, the Institute for Enology and Viticulture was launched as part of the College. Given the conservative and religious backgrounds of the other established colleges in the area, the new institute was a novelty: a program that encouraged students to drink wine in class—with no threat of detention.

Dr. Myles Anderson—counselor, instructor, administrator, and owner of his own winery—was charged with developing and launching the new enology and viticulture program. He understood the need for a center not only to train students in the wine world, but also to assist in advancing the area’s economic situation.

Indeed, once word spread about this exciting project, private and public support began flowing in, with the Washington State legislature and the US Department of Agriculture providing funds toward a new $5 million facility. Construction began within a year on a new building that also offers a kitchen and classrooms for the Culinary Arts program, combining the domains of food and wine.

The college became Walla Walla’s own grape-centric Field of Dreams: “If you build it, they will come.” And they did. Lawyers, pharmacists, nurses, farmers, rock musicians, and housewives signed up for the program. They came not only from the Northwest, but from as far away as Maine and Florida (and in 2011, five students from Georgia—the country, not the state—will matriculate, cinching the record for farthest travel).

The school currently enrolls a maximum of 35 new students each year, and can accommodate from 58 to 70 students at any given time. The average enrollment is around 75% men and 25% women, and the average age is about 35 years old.

The real beauty of the program lies in hands-on learning, from planting a vineyard to the finished bottle. Students are responsible for making the wine and for conducting their own wine-related chemical analyses. In fact, the cellars have started an expansion of their lab to accommodate twenty students. The wine is sold at the school’s non-profit winery, College Cellars.

Many courses are tailored to meet the specific needs of the wine industry in the Pacific Northwest, with special emphasis given to Southeastern Washington wine grape varieties and wines. Students may choose to earn an Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences Degree in Enology and Viticulture or an Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences Degree in Wine Marketing and Management, both two-year programs. Students may also opt for Viticulture or Enology Certificates after completion of the first year. The AA degree programs contain many of the prerequisite courses for transfer to Washington Sate University for those wanting to pursue a BS in viticulture or enology.

Motion City Soundtrack will be going on tour with fun., A Rocket To The Moon and Sing It Loud. Dates can be viewed below.

Apr 6 2010 8:00P
Grandma’s Sports Garden with Fun, A Rocket To The Moon, and Sing It Loud Duluth, Minnesota
Apr 7 2010 8:00P
House of Blues with Fun, A Rocket To The Moon, and Sing It Loud Chicago, Illinois
Apr 9 2010 8:00P
The Rave with Fun, A Rocket To The Moon, and Sing It Loud Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Apr 12 2010 8:00P
Rocketown with Fun, A Rocket To The Moon, and Sing It Loud Nashville, Tennessee
Apr 13 2010 8:00P
Newport Music Hall with Fun, A Rocket To The Moon, and Sing It Loud Columbus, Ohio
Apr 15 2010 8:00P
The Blue Moose Tap House with Fun, A Rocket To The Moon, and Sing It Loud Iowa City, Iowa
Apr 17 2010 8:00P
Winona Sate University - McCown Fieldhouse with Fun, A Rocket To The Moon, and Sing It Loud Winona, Minnesota
Apr 19 2010 8:00P
Orange Peel with Fun, A Rocket To The Moon, and Sing It Loud Asheville, North Carolina
Apr 20 2010 8:00P
40 Watt club with Fun, A Rocket To The Moon, and Sing It Loud Athens, Georgia
Apr 21 2010 8:00P
The Venue with Fun, A Rocket To The Moon, and Sing It Loud Gainesville, Florida
Apr 24 2010 8:00P
State Theatre with Fun, A Rocket To The Moon, and Sing It Loud St. Petersburg, Florida
Apr 25 2010 8:00P
House of Blues with Fun, A Rocket To The Moon, and Sing It Loud Orlando, Florida
Apr 27 2010 8:00P
Lincoln Theatre with A Rocket To The Moon and Sing It Loud Raleigh, North Carolina
Apr 28 2010 8:00P
930 Club with A Rocket To The Moon and Sing It Loud Washington, Washington DC