From his start picking grapes at Tantalus Vineyard to now owning a vineyard with boutique winery goals of his own, Ryan Fipke is living proof of the value of education and training for B.C.91裸聊视频檚 wine industry talent.
As tasting room manager and private sales at Tantalus Vineyards, and also co-owner of Vice & Virtue Brewery 91裸聊视频� one of newest additions to the Okanagan91裸聊视频檚 booming craft beer scene 91裸聊视频� Fipke has had many roles over the years, but has witnessed one constant: the importance of learning at every step along the way.
Knowing a career in the wine industry was his passion, Fipke began his formal training a few years back when he enrolled in the three wine certificate programs offered by Okanagan College91裸聊视频檚 Continuing Studies Department.
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91裸聊视频淲hile I was working full-time, I gained the skills I needed for my career with the viticulture, winery assistant and wine sales certificates,91裸聊视频� said Fipke. 91裸聊视频淎nd in the process, I also uncovered a ton of really cool family history that I never knew. My grandma used to make her own wine in the 1940s and my paternal grandpa distilled moonshine, and that91裸聊视频檚 just the start of it. It turns out wine and craft alcohols run in my blood.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淲hen I made all of these connections, I couldn91裸聊视频檛 help but feel like I was meant to be here. I91裸聊视频檝e been working very hard for many years; now that I own a vineyard, I91裸聊视频檓 literally planting vines for my future dream of running a small boutique winery.91裸聊视频�
With wine and wine tourism driving economic growth in the Okanagan region, Fipke and the college91裸聊视频檚 continually growing numbers of alumni in this area are all examples of how education is becoming more and more critical, fueled by advances in technology in grape growing and the science of wine making all the way through to winery sales and marketing.
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91裸聊视频淭he Okanagan wine industry is a dynamic and growing ecosystem full of aspiring producers, skilled workers and innovators who are producing truly world-class wines,91裸聊视频� said Dr. Dennis Silvestrone, director of Continuing Studies and Corporate Training at Okanagan College.
91裸聊视频淥ur goal is to be ahead of the curve and bring training for the full cycle of winemaking to workers and employers in the Okanagan Shuswap,91裸聊视频� said Silvestrone. 91裸聊视频淎nd with our alumni going on to become award-winning winemakers and vineyard managers right here in the region, it91裸聊视频檚 exciting to see that knowledge at work in the community and benefiting our local industry as well as around the world.91裸聊视频�
The Viticulture certificate is one of hundreds of Continuing Studies courses and certificates offered by the College at its campuses and learning centres from Revelstoke to the South Okanagan. To find out more about the program or to discover a new career path, check out Okanagan College91裸聊视频檚 newly released winter brochure at .
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