The Geography of Wine

Students will be able to identify and analyze the main physical geography variables (including weather, climate and microclimate, geology and soils, biogeography) affecting global and local viticultural production.

Students will be able to identify and analyze the various human geographies of wine production and consumption on global, national and local scales.

Students will be able to describe and explain the geography of wine in Minnesota, including varieties grown, regions wine production is favored, and growth of industry.

Students will be able to identify and predict stages in the seasonal cycle of the vine and states of wine making by hemisphere and physical terrain.

Students will be able to describe and explain cultural and statistical trends in wine consumption.

Students will be able to summarize and evaluate innovations in the global historical geography of viticulture and wine making over the last six millennia, e.g., earliest evidence of wine making in Georgia to Ancient Egyptians and Romans, through the Monastic period of the middle ages to modern wine production since the European colonial period to current day.

Students will be able to analyze the impact of economic and political trends on wine production and consumption locally and globally.

Students will be able to compare and contrast wine production and consumption practices of the major world wine regions.