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MSc – Master of Science® in Vineyard & Winery Management

Master of Science

The course is designed to provide knowledge and training needed to manage a wine company or a wine estate in an international context.

MSc – Master of Science® in Vineyard & Winery Management

About the degree

This degree is designed to provide the knowledge and training needed to manage a wine company, wine estate or winery in an international context. Whether your previous experiences have focused on the commercial, managerial or viticultural aspects of the industry, the program seeks to complement your knowledge base with a solid, practice-oriented curriculum. 

Career Opportunities

Courses are designed to put knowledge into practice and lay the foundations for a successful career in the vine and wine industry, with many job prospects including: 

  • Wine estate manager
  • Cellar manager
  • Vineyard manager
  • Consultant in viticulture and enology
  • Consultant in wine trading and/or distribution
  • Research and developement in the wine industry
  • Educator
  • Etc.

Learning Outcomes

Vineyard Management and Wine Production

  • Analyze the interactions between soil/climate/vine.
  • Manage the vineyard from plantation to harvest.
  • Understand the science-based fundamentals of terroir, choice of plant material and canopy management through practical experience.
  • Acquire and develop knowledge of enology and winery technology.
  • Study the chemical composition of wine and understand its origins and development through winemaking processes.
  • Perform sensory analysis of wine to evaluate its flavor, aroma, texture, and overall quality.
  • Conduct winery evaluations focused on aligning wine production with the commercial objectives.

International Business and Performance Management

  • Design and implement a business plan (i.e. operating statement, choice of actions, etc.).
  • Structure the legal and/or financial framework of the project.
  • Strategically set priorities and monitor accomplishment of business objectives.
  • Link sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) to stakeholder claims.

Commercialization

  • Price the product according to economic and technical criteria.
  • Conduct commercial analyses and carry out a cost accounting.
  • Understand product innovation, brand management, and distribution channels.
  • Forecast sales and revenues.

Study program

This two-year Master’s program (taught entirely in English) combines technical skills (viticulture and oenology) and entrepreneurial skills (business management).

Semester 1

  • Immersion Week
  • Bibliographic Research, Synthesis, and Presentation (TU1)
  • Vine and Wine Data Analysis and Visualization (TU2)
  • Introduction to the Wine Industry (TU3)
  • Wines & Spirits: International Markets & Clusters (TU4)
  • Basics in Wine Estate Management (TU5)
  • Fundamentals of Viticulture and Enology (TU6)
  • Wine Policies and Fundamentals of Microeconomics (TU7)
  • Study Trip (Mediterranean/Atlantic Terroir)

Semester 2

  • Open Unit 1 – Sensory Training
  • Seasonal Vineyard Practices and Management (TU8)
  • Enology and Winery Technology (TU9)
  • Marketing, Supply Chain, and Distribution (TU10)
  • Cost and Profitability (TU11)
  • Technical Audit – Vineyard and Winery (TU12)
  • Financial Management (TU13)
  • First-Year Practical Internship – Part 1 (TU14)

Semester 3

  • First-Year Practical Internship – Part 2 (TU15)
  • Open Unit 2 – Winery Design and Equipment
  • World Viticulture (TU16)
  • Specific Vinification and Aging (TU17)
  • International Business and Development Strategies (TU18)
  • Business Plan for Wine Estate (TU19)
  • Leadership and Project Management (TU20)
  • Global audit (TU21)

Semester 4

  • Final Internship – Part 2 (TU22)

Internships

The program is built around two internship experiences where students will have real professional experiences in vineyard and winery operations and the associated business.

The internships take place during the summers after the first and second years of study.

Application requirement

Candidates are required to have an undergraduate degree of at least 3 years (i.e. bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent) from an accredited college or university, in one of the closely related fields:

  • Agronomy/Agricultural Sciences
  • Food/Plant Sciences & Technologies
  • Business, Management or Economics

The tuition fees for the Master’s degree are 11,000 € per year

Dates

October 1stOnline application opens (first call)
Mars 15thDeadline for first call applicants
AprilThe decisions of the Jury of eligibility for first call applicants
By the end of the month, preselected applicants will be interviewed via Zoom and students will be advised of acceptance
April 1stSecond call for application is open
July 1stDeadline for the second call applications
June-JulySecond call preselected applicants will be interviewed via Zoom and students will be advised of acceptance

Contacts

General Enquiries

  • master.science@agro-bordeaux.fr