The art of growing grapes is to be one of the components of the UK’s first wine business honours degree, which has been launched by Plumpton College in partnership with the University of Brighton.
The new BA (Hons) Wine Business degree course, which starts this September (2015), has been developed by the East Sussex-based college for those seeking a high-level career in the wine trade. It will be based on three themes – the wine trade, wines of the world, and business management – and offer students the opportunity to participate in commercial grape growing and winemaking on the college’s ten-hectare estate.
Other topics covered in the new course, which complements the college’s well-established foundation degree and its BA top-up route, include key wine regions of the world, sparkling wine, wine distribution channels, wine sensory evaluation, and consumer behavior.
Course leader Paul Harley said: “I’m really excited to see the launch of the full three-year wine business degree at Plumpton. We’ve already seen a considerable level of interest, from both within the UK and abroad, for a great course with a strong academic focus on the business of wine.”
A number of course modules also correspond to the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications, which will allow students to take the WSET Diploma as an additional qualification. Plumpton’s wine department also has very strong links with the London wine trade, and there will therefore be opportunities to attend study trips to wine-producing areas like Bordeaux, Montpellier and Champagne.
For more information on the new degree, which starts this September (2015), contact Paul Harley at paul.harley@plumpton.ac.uk.