Wine and Culture

3 semester credits. This course presents an exploration of food and wine pairing. The topic goes beyond a classic approach to pairing by demystifying the terminology and the methodology of matching wine and food. Whether preparing a meal at home or ordering at a restaurant, students gain an enhanced knowledge of pairing that can create a harmony and synergy between wine and food, which ultimately leads to a sublime connection of the mind, mouth, memories, and experiences. Particular focus will be given to the Italian cultural approach through wine tastings from the major wine areas paired with classic Italian recipes.

3 semester credits. The wine culture in Italy takes its origins from the successful combination of rural and noble expertise devoted to winemaking over the centuries. The structure of Italian wines, their harmonious qualities, and their refinement reflect the link between the farmer, who learns directly from nature, and the refined Renaissance gentleman, noble by education and tradition. The course aims to provide the student with the images, feelings, and flavors of wine across the cultural, architectural, economic, and historic aspects of Italian civilization that is now experiencing a second rebirth in the contemporary era.

3 semester credits. The course will introduce students to the outstanding richness of Tuscan wine heritage. As Tuscany is a benchmark of Italian winemaking culture and tradition, this course analyzes how the most important historical events, members of Florentine noble families, and pioneering winemakers have revolutionized, over the centuries, the Italian wine industry today. Course structure includes the study of the famous and representative wine production areas of Tuscany, as well as major native grape varieties. A general introduction to wine appreciation will help students understanding the selected Tuscan wines and their specific features.

3 semester credits. This course is targeted towards students who are interested in the Italian traditions and the pivotal role that Italy has played in the evolution of food and wine culture. Italy is in fact the oldest wine-producing nation in the world where grapes are grown in almost every region of the country. This course will consider and analyze the various influences and cultural overlaps that this ancient tradition has brought to contemporary Italian culture. This course includes a language component (beginning level), which integrates Italian language through a real-world application and interdisciplinary approach.

6 semester credits. This course is targeted towards students who are interested in the Italian traditions and the pivotal role that Italy has played in the evolution of food and wine culture. Italy is in fact the oldest wine-producing nation in the world where grapes are grown in almost every region of the country. This course will consider and analyze the various influences and cultural overlaps that this ancient tradition has brought to contemporary Italian culture. This course includes experiential learning hours with our Community Engagement Member Institutions (CEMI). This course also includes a language component (beginning level), which integrates Italian language through a real-world application and interdisciplinary approach.

3 semester credits. This course explores wine cultures and societies in Tuscany. On a socio-cultural level, wine holds an iconic position of the Tuscan table, as it is used to celebrate local festivities, perpetuate customs, and to energize social gatherings and events. This course introduces students to the underlying human context behind Tuscan wine productions and service, covering a variety of wine-producing zones in the region - from larger productions, such as Chianti and the Super Tuscans, to lesser-commercialized emerging areas like Montecucco and Chianti Rufina.

3 semester credits. The course features a multifaceted approach that involves and engages students in the investigation of the Florentine tradition of wine windows. Introducing these peculiar wine businesses under a cross-disciplinary lens structured around historical, socio-cultural, and financial filters, students gain a thorough and extensive knowledge of the aspects and features that lie beyond wine marketing and tourism and the social media trend of wine windows. The exploration of city center neighborhoods - where wine windows witness the centuries-old wine heritage of Florence - catalyzes the topics pursued in the course and allows students to gain an understanding of the socio-economic value of wine windows as a tangible expression of the Italian wine culture. The course entails an overview of fundamental concepts, related to the wine industry and deeply intertwined with the wine window phenomenon, such as financial resilience during global crises, brand image strategies, the impact and consequences of fast tourism on economic sustainability, and generational wine consumption habits. The classroom approach of this course is based on experiencing the city as the academic space for learning and engagement. Classes are not held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations.