Located in Aptos, CA, Cabrillo College’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management program started in the school’s cafeteria with a small dining room as the classroom in 1975. The program had permission from the college president, Bob Swenson, to serve wine with his philosophy being “what’s dinner without wine?”
The well-respected program offers certificates in cooking, baking, food service management, and catering. The wine program alone offers a 1-year Certificate in Wine Studies and a 2-year Associates Degree of Science (AS) in Wine Studies. Instead of the school cafeteria, culinary students operate and prepare meals for the Pino Alto Restaurant, a favorite among locals.
Sue Slater, retired Department Chair and Instructor, started with the program in 1977 and created the wine program in 2000. She had been teaching fine dining and realized that the students needed more assistance with wine. They needed to learn how to properly open the bottle and serve the wine and how to describe the wine being served. Sue went out to educate herself about wine and receive her certificates. That is when she ran into the challenges with finding an easily accessible, high quality source about all things wine. The program has worked beyond her wildest dreams.
Under California’s Strong Workforce Program, the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management program has received an increase in funding from Career and Technical Education funds. Given that the Santa Cruz region is a vacation area with many restaurants and is a wine growing region, there is a strong need for this training program. The wine program received funds which includes funding this website, plus more for nutrition in culinary classes, addressing a growing need.
Providing High Quality, Up-To-Date Information All About Wine
Cabrillo College Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management and Wine Programs
"The wine program at Cabrillo College was a great launching point for me as I entered the wine industry. The in-depth courses gave me a very solid foundation. Certain classes really ignited a passion for discussing wine academically and cultivated the skillset to taste and discuss wine systematically. I pursued various professionally recognized certifications including the Wine and Spirits Educational Trust Level 3, Italian Wine Scholar, and Certified Wine Specialist. I have since trained restaurant staff, hosted private wine tastings, poured at special events, and most recently created a wine education company. I am confident anyone interested in a very thorough education in international wines would benefit from the program offered at Cabrillo College." Chaney Janssen, IWS, CWS, WSET 3 Founder, Destined For Grapeness
Chaney Janssen
"The Cabrillo College Wine Program has given me the tools that I needed to be successful in the wine industry. After my second wine class, I became a tasting room host for Wrights Station Winery up in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and eventually, I became the lead host for Scheid Vineyards Tasting Room (Carmel By The Sea). I've earned a Certificate in Wine Studies which has helped me achieve my current position as district manager for Republic National Distributing Company where I lead a team in charge of wine and spirit sales for chain stores." Fanny González District Manager, Republic National Distributing Company
Fanny Gonzalez