MyFUA

Wine and Culture

The Department of Wine and Culture offers courses that examine the historic and cultural aspects that are inherent to the world of wines. Wine is explored through appreciation, the culture of wine in Tuscany and Italy, and the relationship between food and wine.

FWWCMW307 The Mystery of Wine

3 semester credits. The objective of this course is not to explain the technical or scientific aspects of wine-making and wine tasting analysis but that of exploring the cultural contexts that have always accompanied wine. Whether in the courts of emperors, kings, and philosophers or in the realm of common folk, the course will explore the myth and cult status of wine and the deeply probing fascination that wine has wielded over humans since its birth. Wine will be discussed as a historic and cultural player in society by examining texts, artistic depictions, and other documented sources to uncover the alluring aura that renders wine a constant companion of food and our insatiable palates.

FWWCPF335 Pairing Food and Wine

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.

FWWCRW330 Exploration of Wine Culture in Italy

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.

FWWCTW262 Tuscany and Its Wines

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.

FWWCWC340 Food, Wine, and Culture in Italy

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. The course will also feature an Italian language component in order to better understand and appreciate the elements of contemporary Italian culture which will be discussed during the course.

FWWCWC345 Food, Wine, and Culture in Italy

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 an Italian language component for beginning-level students. This course includes experiential learning hours with our Community Engagement Member Institutions (CEMI). CEMI are dynamic learning environments created to foster learning through a structured interaction with the community. In addition to regular lecture hours, students will be involved in learning by doing through real projects and integration with the local population and territory in order to remove cultural and learning barriers as well as to develop a strong likelihood for success in life. The experiential learning hours are fully supervised by instructors who track students step by step during their learning experience, monitor and advise according to student needs, and support student initiative. This unique learning model allows students to benefit from an all-encompassing educational experience based on theory and practice in real enterprises, learning of comprehensive operational processes, problem-solving, leadership, and management.

FWWCWT310 Wine Culture and Society in Tuscany

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.

FWWCWW250 Wine Windows and Wine Business Walks

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 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 Florence 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: lectures, observations, exercises, analysis, and reflections on presented topics are held in relevant sites that are accounted for in the academic planning, syllabus, and related course material. Coursework and submissions will be regularly assessed on the Course website platform through daily assignments in addition to exams, papers, and projects. Learning through the on-site classroom approach fosters a deeper understanding of the cultural environment of Florence and how it is related to the subject of study represented by the course, and allows the overall experience to contribute to the students' academic and personal enrichment.