Plumpton College launches first UK wine business degree

By Erin Smith

Published: 24 April, 2015

Plumpton College is launching the first wine business honours degree in the UK.

Plumpton College is launching the first Wine Business honours degree in the UK.

The course will focus on three themes within the wine industry: the wine trade, wines of the world, and business management, which will include will include financial management, marketing and business planning.

Student will be exposed to specialist modules focusing on topics such as wine distribution channels, wine sensory evaluation and consumer behaviour and a number of the course modules will include Wine and Spirit Education Trust training up through the levels three and four qualifications.

Paul Harley, a lecturer at Plumpton and the Wine Business course leader, said he was excited about the three-year degree course which

"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," he said.

Currently Plumpton College, which has its own vineyard, a commercial winery and a research centre offering course to approximately 130 full-time students, offers degrees in wine production and wine business in partnership with the University of Brighton.

The wine programmes offered through the college provides hands-on training for both viticulture and oenology. Throughout the course the students do take study trips which expose them to new wine regions perhaps they had not visited as well as visiting producers.

Plumpton College was established in 1926 and the first wine courses were offered in 1996. Last year it opened the first UK dedicated viticulture and oenology research centre called the UK Wine Research Centre.

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