Winemaking Science Academy Prepares Students for Amateur or Professional Vinification Wednesday, July 23, 2025
For those interested in honing their winemaking skills, Point Park University has introduced a Winemaking Science Academy, offering real-world experience in the entire winemaking process, including grape selection, fermentation, aging and bottling.
Winemaking Science Academy, the only academic winemaking program in the Pittsburgh area, will provide vintners with an opportunity to hone their professional winemaking skills at local wineries. The Winemaking Science Academy is a 10-week, hands-on certificate program that bridges the gap in regional viticulture education.
“Western Pennsylvania is home to a growing number of wineries, yet formal education in winemaking remains limited,” said Jeffrey J. Seaman, M.I.S, associate professor of applied computer science in the Rowland School of Business, who directs the winemaking program at Point Park.
Seaman became interested in vinification in 2011. “My wife and I were given a bottle that completely changed our perception of what wine could be — it was unlike anything we had ever tasted,” he said.
Seaman and his wife began traveling in Pennsylvania and then across the U.S. to explore wine regions from Geneva-on-the-Lake and the Finger Lakes to Columbia Valley and Napa Valley.
“With a background in computer science, I became fascinated by the process behind the product — I wanted to understand how the ‘sauce’ was made,” Seaman said. “That curiosity turned into action when a local winery offered us the tools and encouragement to begin making our own wine. From there, it snowballed. I started reading, taking classes, experimenting, and six years after our first batch, we opened our own winery.”
Now, Seaman brings his experience as a vintner into the classroom. The Winemaking Science Academy will cover:
- Understanding grape biology, fermentation science and microbiology.
- Developing a wine palate, detecting faults and assessing wine quality.
- Exploring modern challenges in grape cultivation, soil management and climate adaptation.
- Hands-on experience with harvest, crushing, fermentation and aging techniques.
- Learning to operate the tools behind wine, from fermentation to bottling.
- Gaining insights into industry standards, compliance and safety protocols.
- Learning how geography, climate and tradition shape winemaking styles.
- Visiting local vineyards and wineries to experience winemaking firsthand.
The Winemaking Science Academy is partnering with several local wineries to offer students access to all phases of winemaking, including Ripepi Vineyard and Winery, PK Winery and Threadbare Cider.
“With its strong agricultural roots and proximity to major wine regions like Lake Erie, Geneva-on-the-Lake, and the Finger Lakes, Western Pennsylvania is ideally suited to nurture and grow our wine region," Seaman said.
The Winemaking Science Academy joins the University’s popular Brewing Science Academy and Distilling Science Academy in a portfolio of programs aimed at expanding the science of spirits and knowledge of those industries.
Registration opens on July 28, 2025, and classes begin Sept. 18, 2025. All classes take place on campus and at winery locations.