Vino de las Colinas: Cultivating the Texas Hill Country Wine Industry
Viticulture Certification Program
The Texas Hill Country continues to stand out as one of the nation’s most dynamic wine regions. As the third-largest American Viticultural Area (AVA) in the United States and one of the fastest-growing, the area is experiencing substantial expansion in vineyard development, tasting room openings, and wine-centered tourism. With this rapid growth comes an increasing need for a highly trained workforce capable of supporting vineyard operations, production facilities, and winery management across the region.
As production scales and new wineries emerge, the Texas wine industry is seeking structured educational pathways that prepare individuals for both entry-level roles and career advancement toward skilled viticulture and winemaking positions.
Schreiner University’s Vino de las Colinas program, developed under the leadership of award-winning Texas winemaker John Rivenburgh, directly responds to these regional workforce needs. This certificate emphasizes hands-on, practical viticulture training, allowing students to actively participate in real-world vineyard tasks throughout the Texas Hill Country. Graduates leave with the applied competencies required to step into the vineyard workforce immediately.
Our Winery
Kerrville Hills Winery
Supporting this initiative, Schreiner University maintains a formal partnership with Kerrville Hills Winery, the pioneering incubator winery led by John Rivenburgh. This partnership provides students with unprecedented access to a working winery environment directly connected to the University’s mission. Learners can observe or engage with real production cycles, fermentation practices, and operational workflows—bridging the gap between classroom learning and commercial industry application.
Through this collaboration, Schreiner students benefit from:
- Exposure to real-time vineyard and winery operations
- Opportunities to engage with industry experts and artisan winemakers
- Insight into sustainable, Texas-focused viticulture methods
- Direct alignment with a respected leader in the Texas wine ecosystem
This unique partnership reinforces Schreiner’s role as a central talent pipeline for the regional wine industry.
What Will you Learn in the Viticulture Certification Program
Vino de las Colinas is a hands-on full participation certificate program. The class will meet twice a month in person for 6 months, March to August. Most classes will be held at Schreiner University, The Hill property located at 2100 E Main Street, Kerrville, TX. As the class progresses, students will travel by bus to visit other thriving Hill Country vineyards.
What Will you Learn in the Viticulture Certification Program
Vino de las Colinas is a hands-on full participation certificate program. The class will meet twice a month in person for 6 months, March to August. Most classes will be held at Schreiner University, The Hill property located at 2100 E Main Street, Kerrville, TX. As the class progresses, students will travel by bus to visit other thriving Hill Country vineyards.
Meet the Award Winning Program Coordinator
John Rivenburgh is a Texas wine innovator of two decades. John has a passion to bring the highest quality handcrafted wines to Texas, understanding this caliber starts in the vineyard. Rivenburgh began his wine journey focusing on farming and grape growing and quickly began focusing on finetuning his winemaking skills. He has won wine competitions on a national and international level. John has been blessed to have projects all over Texas allowing him gravitas in suggesting best farming practices.
Rivenburgh is extremely active in the Texas wine industry. He is the current President of Texas Wine Growers, is a Texas Delegate for the International Organization of Vine and Wine and was two-time past President of Texas Hill Country Wineries Association. Rivenburgh has lobbied and assisted in the creation of legislation relating to the Texas wine industry and served on an advisory board for the Texas Department of Agriculture Wine Initiative for over a decade. Rivenburgh’s motto is, “always be a good steward of well grown grapes”.
John Rivenburgh
Coordinator for Vineyard Research and Wine Operations
jrivenburgh@schreiner.edu
Meet the Award Winning Program Coordinator
John Rivenburgh is a Texas wine innovator of two decades. John has a passion to bring the highest quality handcrafted wines to Texas, understanding this caliber starts in the vineyard. Rivenburgh began his wine journey focusing on farming and grape growing and quickly began focusing on finetuning his winemaking skills. He has won wine competitions on a national and international level. John has been blessed to have projects all over Texas allowing him gravitas in suggesting best farming practices.
Rivenburgh is extremely active in the Texas wine industry. He is the current President of Texas Wine Growers, is a Texas Delegate for the International Organization of Vine and Wine and was two-time past President of Texas Hill Country Wineries Association. Rivenburgh has lobbied and assisted in the creation of legislation relating to the Texas wine industry and served on an advisory board for the Texas Department of Agriculture Wine Initiative for over a decade. Rivenburgh’s motto is, “always be a good steward of well grown grapes”.
John Rivenburgh
Coordinator for Vineyard Research and Wine Operations
jrivenburgh@schreiner.edu
