Jobs for the Major
How this major affects a job search
So you drank all the class wine and are thirsty for more, eh? Looks like you'll have to get a job. That's what you went to school for anyway, isn't it?
Luckily, viticulture is a pretty specialized degree, so you'll probably find yourself somewhere near grapes and wine. You've got all the skills necessary to grow crops, prevent pests and disease, cultivate and utilize yeast, and to properly distribute a finished product. All you've got to decide is which area you'd like to specialize in.
The only possible obstacle is getting hired, so just remember to be friendly at school. The connections you make will be your ticket into the industry. It's a rich world out there in wine country, somewhere between horticulture and hedonism. You can't really go wrong. Who could argue with working amidst hillside vineyards in beautiful, rural California?
Common Career Fields
Education. You know wine well enough, so why not teach about it? Pass that knowledge of wine and grapes down to the next generation and ensure that wine continues to flow freely. Unless you want to be a teaching assistant all your life, this one will likely require graduate school, as well. On the bright side, many teachers in this field are also involved with nearby wineries and are still involved in producing the stuff.
Assistant Winemaker/Viticulturist. This position entails overseeing the vineyard, and managing winemaking procedures such as fermentation, racking (sifting the wine from the fermented silt), bottling wine out of barrels, creating labels, and monitoring supplies. In this job, you'll also be expected to track grounds maintenance, ensuring vines are sprayed to prevent pests, lawns are mowed, hedges trimmed, and waste matter composted or otherwise disposed of. You'd basically be the errand person for a winery. Not the most glamourous job, but it's a good place to start.
Grower Liaison Officer. This one encompasses a bunch of different jobs rolled into one. Managing the vineyard's stock portfolio, analyzing the actual crop yield compared with expected crop yield, collecting samples, quality assurance, and grape harvest planning are all things you'll have to handle. If you prefer not getting your hands dirty and have a knack for numbers, this could be a great option.
Harvesting. This is a demanding job and usually requires a season's commitment. You can expect to be harvesting grapes, crushing and preparing them for fermenting, measuring yeast levels, blending wines, and bottling. Keep in mind that grapes only grow in warm climates (like Arizona or California), and you'll be expected to work in the heat. If summer turns you into a sluggish zombie, this job probably isn't for you.
Vintage Field Officer. This job often covers the three- to four-month growing-to-harvest season and requires knowledge of all aspects of viticulture. Your job would be to serve and protect vines and their grapes from diseases and pests. Kind of like a police officer, except with less donuts. You'll manage the team of people who keep the vines healthy and producing more grapes.
Viticulturist. This is a lot like the assistant viticulturist job, only more important. The people you'll report to are, most likely, the head winemaker and the CEO of your wine production company. You'll have the task of overseeing everything that goes on in the vineyard, grape quality and condition, land maintenance, planning for harvests, guarding against common diseases and pests, and, well, inspiring the vineyard employees on your watch.
Wine Critic. There's no denying that this would be a fun job for pretty much anyone. For fans of wine, it doesn't get any better. You can literally be paid to just taste wine and give your opinions on it. In addition to tasting, describing, and evaluating a wide spectrum of wines, a wine critic writes wine reviews for books, magazines, and other publications. Get ready to practice your swirling and memorize a bunch of fancy words. We're not sure how a wine is supposed to taste "opulent" or "angular," but you sure would.
Current unemployment of the major
5% (Taken from general biology)Percentage of majors who get a higher degree after college
54% (Taken from general biology)Stats obtained from this source.