Wine 101- Wine Sales

(Section 5299)
Course Description

This class examines the business of wine sales and distribution, reviewing the role of brokers and distributors. Topics will include the costs of distribution including margins, mark-ups, freight and taxes. Regional market variation is covered including the differences between retail and restaurant sales. This course covers import and export of wines.

 Course Outline of Record.

Student Learning Outcomes

The primary objective of this course is to enable you to develop and present a professional wine sales plan. To do this you should be able to describe how sales fits into marketing and explain the six sales channels for wine. Understand the relative importance of sales channels by winery size. Demonstrate the proper selling techniques for the different sales channels for wines. Describe the legal restrictions and considerations in selling wine through the different sales channels. 

1. Describe the use of brokers and distributors with wine sales and distribution.

2. Analyze the costs of distribution of wine products including margins, mark-ups, freight, and taxes.

3. Describe wine sales management and import/export of wine.

 

Class Meetings

January 13-March 3

Tuesdays 6pm to 9:20pm

ZOOM LINK:  https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/82553757308 Links to an external site.

Meeting ID: 825 5375 7308

One tap mobile

+16699006833,,82553757308# US (San Jose)

 

Instructor Contact

Christopher Sawyer

Email: csawyer@santarosa.edu

Phone: (707) 338-0524

Office Hours: Weds or Fridays TBD (Will confirm 1/20)

I respond to emails within 48 hours.

 

Course Web Site

Students will use the Canvas course web site for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, viewing classmate's work, sharing resources, and viewing grades.

Textbook

Wine Marketing and Sales – Success Strategies for a Saturated Market, 3rd edition. Paul Wagner, Janeen Olsen, Liz Thatch (in bookstore, cheapest at Amazon).  

You can locate and order textbooks online via the SRJC Bookstore. Note that if you want to pick your books up in Petaluma, you need to order them from the Petaluma Bookstore website.

Important Dates

Day Class Begins: Tuesday January 13th!

Day Class Ends: Tuesday March 3rd

Last Day to Add without instructor's approval: 1/13/26

Last Day to Add with instructor's approval: 1/20/26

Last Day to Drop without a 'W' symbol: 1/20/26

Last Day to Opt for Pass/No Pass: 3/3/26

Last Day to Drop with a 'W' symbol: 2/23/26

Dropping the Class

If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it to avoid getting no refund (after 10% of course length), a W symbol (after 20%), or a grade (after 60%). Also, for several consecutive, unexplained absences, the instructor may drop a student.

Pass‐NoPass (P/NP)

You may take this class P/NP. You must decide before the deadline, and add the option online with TLC or file the P/NP form with Admissions and Records. With a grade of C or better, you will get P.

You must file for the P/NP option by [date]. Once you decide to go for P/NP, you cannot change back to a letter grade. If you are taking this course as part of a certificate program, you can probably still take the class P/NP. Check with a counselor to be sure.

Instructor Announcements and Q&A Forum

The instructor will post announcements on the “Instructor Announcements” page in Canvas throughout the semester. Canvas notifies students according to their preferred Notification Preferences as soon as the instructor creates an Announcement. A “Q&A Forum” is also on Canvas to ask for assistance of your classmates or of instructor.

Attendance

Students who do not log-in to an online class after the second day of the semester will be dropped from the class. It is strongly advised that if you need to miss more than one class/homework deadline in a row that you contact me to avoid being dropped from the class.

Late Policy

All assignments are due at midnight PST on the due date. A late submission will receive a 20% penalty. Submissions more than one week late are not accepted without prior arrangement. Late work will not be graded unless student sends instructor an email with URL for late work.

Exams

There will be 3 quizzes. The material comes from the textbook, class lectures and supplemental materials. If any exam is missed, a zero will be recorded as the score. It is your responsibility to take the online exams by the due date.

Grading Policy

Visit the “Grades” in Canvas to keep track of your grades. I grade once a week and post grades and comments on the online Canvas gradebook.

Grades will be assigned as follows:

A	90%	142 points or more
B	80%	126 to 141 points
C	70%	110 to 125 points
D	60%	95 to 109 points

If taking Pass/No Pass you need at least 70% of the total class points and complete the midterm exam and the final exam to pass the class.

Standards of Conduct

Students who register in SRJC classes are required to abide by the SRJC Student Conduct Standards. Violation of the Standards is basis for referral to the Vice President of Student Services or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Student Code of Conduct page.

Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. I encourage students to share information and ideas, but not their work. See these links on Plagiarism:
SRJC Writing Center Lessons on avoiding plagiarism
SRJC's policy on Academic Integrity

Other Important Policies and Practices

Avoid Plagiarism Like the, er, Plague

Although most students have likely heard about plagiarism during their years of schooling, it still is prevalent-even in higher education.

The video below reviews what plagiarism is and how not to do it.

Plagiarism: How to avoid it

Netiquette, or Why Is It Harder to Be Polite Online?

Netiquette refers to using common courtesy in online communication. All members of the class are expected to follow netiquette in all course communications. Use these guidelines:

• Use capital letters sparingly. THEY LOOK LIKE SHOUTING.
• Forward emails only with a writer's permission.
• Be considerate of others' feelings and use language carefully.
• Cite all quotations, references, and sources (otherwise, it is plagiarism).
• Use humor carefully. It is hard to "read" tone; sometimes humor can be misread as criticism or personal attack. Feel free to use emoticons like :) for a smiley face to let others know you are being humorous.
• Use complete sentences and standard English grammar to compose posts. Write in proper paragraphs. Review work before submitting it.
• Text speak, such as "ur" for "your" or "ru" for "are you" etc., is only acceptable when texting.

Special Needs

Students with disabilities who believe they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disability Resources (527-4278), as soon as possible to better ensure such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.