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WineEast All VESTA courses contain a practical component to reinforce new information and skills. Students are required to apply this knowledge in vineyards and wineries through a carefully supervised practicum, expert-led workshops and/or class projects. Mid- and senior-level mentors at commercial vineyards and wineries guide the students through prescribed skill sets and provide VESTA with written evaluations of performance level and completion of required performance standards. VESTA teaching faculty Members of the VESTA faculty, made up of successful professionals from academia and the grape and wine industry across the country, have advanced training and education in their subject area specialties. These true professionals bring industry experience to ensure that students are ready for the challenges they might experience as an employee or owner of a vineyard or winery. Who is VESTA for? The easy answer is that VESTA is for anyone seeking a quality educational experience regarding the growth of grapevines and the production of wine. Some might ask, "Aren't there places already doing that?" Sure, there are excellent educational programs under way in regions where grape and wine production is sufficiently large to support traditional approaches at universities and community colleges. However, these approaches have a limitation not found in VESTA: You do not have to become a full- When You Require A Consistent Supply GRAPE SOURCING: WINERY SUPPLY: TRANSPORTATION: By variety, appellation or specification All equipment and supplies for all phases of winemaking Logistical network operating daily from coast to coast Fresh Corks Directly From Portugal 4th Generation Family Cork Producer All Natural Cork Closures Free Branding Your Source For Quality Products including: fresh grapes, juice and bulk wine 101 Reserve Road * Hartford, CT 06114 * 877-812-1137 * Sales@JuiceGrape.com 152 Wines & Vines JAnUARY 2012 Free is Better Free Shipping Ask about our Progressive Discounts Phone (203) 681-7743 Cell (860) 335-0667 email: reliablecork@gmail.com www.reliablecorksolutions.com Course requirements to earn VESTA's associate's degree in enology in- clude fundamentals of chemistry and a survey of physics. time student, and you do not have to be physically on-site at the educational institution. This last issue is critical for developing grape and wine regions, and it can be especially limiting to potential students who cannot afford to leave current employment or relocate for school. An example of the value VESTA has had on industry comes from Andrew Meggitt, executive winemaker at St. James Winery, the largest wine producer in Missouri. Meggitt found that both quality and retention of his workforce were enhanced through VESTA. "As a company, we want to build healthy lifestyles for our staff; education is one way we can do this. VESTA provides us with an opportunity to offer education and further training of staff that has been with the winery for three years or more. The individuals are motivated and glean a tremendous amount of information from the courses,"