Plumpton College launches the UK’s first Wine Business Degree

Plumpton College launches the first Wine Business honours degree in the United Kingdom, for those seeking a high-level career in the wine trade.

Plumpton College (UK), offers degrees in both wine business and production, in partnership with the University of Brighton. The first courses started in 1996, and the College now boasts a 10-hectare vineyard, dedicated Wine Centre (with a commercial winery and research centre) and a strong international staff team delivering courses to around 130 full-time students.

The three themes in the new BA (Hons) Wine Business degree course are the wine trade, wines of the world, and business management.  Students will learn about the key wine regions of the world, and engage in specialist modules covering areas such as sparkling wine, wine distribution channels, wine sensory evaluation, and consumer behaviour, as well as developing their skills in financial management, marketing and business planning.

A number of course modules 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. Another strength of the course is the opportunity for students to participate in commercial grapegrowing and winemaking on the College estate. Plumpton Wine Department also has very strong links with the London wine trade, and there are opportunities to attend study trips to wine-producing areas like Bordeaux, Montpellier and Champagne.

Course Leader Paul Harley says “I’m really excited to see the launch of the full 3-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.”

Originally established in 1926, Plumpton College is a regional and national centre of excellence in education and training in land-based industries, offering courses in a wide range of subjects including Agriculture, Animal Science, Arboriculture, Countryside Management, Equine Studies, Forestry, and Wine.  Course levels range from part-time work-based learning courses through to University degrees.

Plumpton College is an international centre of excellence for education, training and research in wine.

More information please contact Paul Harley, BA (Hons) Wine Business Course Leader at paul.harley@plumpton.ac.uk or on 01273 892070