Course Syllabus
Wine Chemistry
Prefix and Number VIT_ENOL 539
Semester and Year | Fall 2025
Number of Credit Hours | 1
Prerequisites | VIT_ENOL 538 (may be concurrent)
Course Details
Day and Time: Fridays, 9:10 am-12:00 pm and 1:10-4:00 pm
Meeting Location: TWSC 206
Instructor Contact Information
Instructor Name: Thomas S Collins
Instructor Contact Information: WSC239, 509-372-7515, tom.collins@wsu.edu
Instructor Office Hours: TBD
Course Description
This is a comprehensive laboratory course in the chemistry and biochemistry of grapes and wines and should be taken concurrently with VIT_ENOL 538. The course covers the primary methods for analysis of each class of analyte, focusing on methods in widespread use by the industry.
Course Materials
Books: Understanding Wine Chemistry, Waterhouse, Sacks, Jeffery; 2nd edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2024, $120.58
Other Materials: Techniques for Chemical Analysis & Quality Monitoring, Iland et al., 2004, out of print, used copies may be available, excerpts will be provided in lab as required
Fees: TBD
|
Course Learning Outcomes (students will be able to:) |
Activities Supporting the Learning Outcomes | Assessment of the Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Analyze grape and wine samples for a broad range of analytes using standardized industry methods of analysis | hands on conduct of laboratory exercises; maintenance of a laboratory notebook over the course of the semester | Laboratory reports; lab practicum |
| Understand and implement chemical laboratory safety measures and safety programs | laboratory exercises, lab assignments | lab quizzes, laboratory reports, lab practicum |
| Understand and implement winery regulatory programs, such as the Food Safety Modernization Act and the Food Bioterrorism Act |
laboratory exercises, lab assignments |
lab quizzes, laboratory reports |
| Dates | Lesson Topic | Assignment | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Week 1 |
Lab safety, lab notebooks & reports, soluble solids, nitrogen compounds | lab measurements of soluble solids and nitrogen compounds | lab report #1 |
| Week 2 [25 October] |
Ethanol, residual sugars, volatile acidity, malic and lactic acids | lab measurements of ethanol, residual sugar, VA, enzymatic analyses | lab report #2, measurement precision assignment |
| Week 3 [01 November] |
Color, tannins total phenolics | lab measurements of color and phenolics | lab report #3, lab quiz |
| Week 4 [8 November] |
Protein and cold stability testing | Lab testing of protein and bitartrate stability | lab report #4, review of lab notebooks |
| Week 5 [15 November] |
Sulfur dioxide, bench trials | Lab measurement of sulfur dioxide, preparation and evaluation of fining or addition trials | lab report #5, review of SDS assignment |
| Week 6 [22 November] |
Instrumental analysis of aroma and flavor compounds | demonstrations of instrumental analyses, demo of GC "sniff" instrument | lab report #6, lab quiz |
| Week 7 [29 November] |
Thanksgiving holiday | ||
| Week 8 [06 December] |
Lab practicum | Practical evaluation of student ability to conduct routine analysis of grapes and wines | Lab report #7, review of lab notebooks |
Expectations for Student Effort
Describe how much time students should expect to invest in the course each week. Graduate courses should state: "For each hour of lecture equivalent, students should expect to have a minimum of two hours of work outside of class." Note that Global campus courses will automatically include credit hour equivalents in the syllabus.] [For each three hours of lab, students should expect to have a minimum of two hours of work outside of class. In this class, that would include preparation of lab reports, maintenance of lab notebooks, completion of lab assignments, and pre-work for the next lab session.
Grading
| Type of Assignment (tests, papers, etc) | Points | Percent of Overall Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Lab reports (7) | 50 each | 43.75 |
| Lab assignments (2) | 50 each | 12.50 |
| Lab notebook review (2) | 50 each | 12.50 |
| Lab quizzes (2) | 25 each | 6.25 |
| Lab practicum | 200 | 25.0 |
| Grade | Percent | Grade | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| A |
>93.0 |
C | 73.0-76.9 |
| A- | 90.0-92.9 | C- | 70.0-72.9 |
| B+ | 87.0-89.9 | D+ | 67.0-69.9 |
| B | 83.0-86.9 | D | 60.0-66.9 |
| B- | 80.0-82.9 | F | <60.0 |
| C+ | 77.0-79.9 |
Attendance and Make-Up Policy
This lab course meets every Friday, with a morning session and an afternoon session. Students are expected to attend all scheduled lab sessions. If the student misses a session, the student is solely responsible for course content that was missed and must arrange with the instructor to make up the time in the lab. Students are expected to have completed any assigned pre-work before arriving for the lab.
Academic Integrity Statement
You are responsible for reading WSU's Academic Integrity Policy, which is based on Washington State law. If you cheat in your work in this class you will:
-be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and may fail the assignment and/or the course and will not have the option to withdraw from the course pending an appeal.
-Be reported to the Center for Community Standards
-Have the right to appeal my decision
-Not be able to drop the course of withdraw from the course until the appeals process is finished
If you have any questions about what you can and cannot do in this course, ask me.
If you want to ask for a change in my decision about academic integrity, use the form at the Center for Community Standards website. You must submit this request within 21 calendar days of the decision.