The Department of Wine Expertise offers a thorough exploration of wine studies and enology. Courses are designed for students intending to continue with careers in the professional wine industry. Italian and international wines are examined through a scientific approach for organoleptic and production qualities as well as from a marketing perspective.
3 semester credits. Students will perform and operate firsthand Wine and Food Pairing along with Wine Service at real events. Tasks will range from tasting, serving, interpreting labels, wine terminology, and storage. Wine lists will be prepared under the supervision of a faculty member. In addition, the student will cover the principles of correct restaurant style food and wine pairing along with professional wine service and wine service management. This class includes experiential learning hours. 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.
3 semester credits. This course presents a practical and technical approach based on understanding the direct relationship and reactions between components, flavors, and textures. This approach uses sensory analysis to help the student identify key elements that affect pairings. Concrete examples include food analysis and tasting notes. Dedicated dishes, ingredients, and flavorings will be paired with wine in order to understand the interaction between these elements. The direct food and wine pairing analysis will also culminate in a complete gastronomical, regional, and cultural context evaluation. Wines from the New and the Old World, paired with food, will offer students a real perspective of the concept of identity in the world of gastronomy.
3 semester credits. This course offers students the unique chance to learn regional winemaking cultures and practices supported by a direct on-site experience in the breathtaking Italian countryside. Students will acquire knowledge of different methods of planting, training, irrigation, frost protection and harvesting directly from the wine producers. They will also familiarize with wine operations from vineyard to cellar, from the various winemaking equipment to fermentation tools. This class includes field learning hours. Field learning is a method of educating through first-hand experience. Skills, knowledge, and experience are acquired outside of the traditional academic classroom setting and may include field activities, field research, and service learning projects. The field learning experience is cultural because it is intended to be wide-reaching, field-related content is not limited to the course subject but seeks to supplement and enrich academic topics. Students will have the opportunity to integrate theory and practice while experiencing Italian culture, art, and community within the Italian territory. Faculty will lead students in experiencing Italian culture through guided projects and field experiences as planned for the course. Field learning will be developed through classroom preparation, follow up projects, and guided learning outcomes. Field learning will provide students with the opportunity to develop skills and appreciate the multifold components of Italian Culture through direct experience. Field education will advance student learning as a relationship-centered process.
3 semester credits. The course gives both a general overview of the Italian viticulture and a systematic description of the grapevines. The students will study the history of viticulture, the life cycle of a vineyard and of a grapevine, and the processes that took place to arrive at modern viticulture. Course topics include environmental analysis, the choice of the right rootstocks for varying conditions, crafting techniques, canopy systems, trellis control, protections from pests and diseases, cultivation issues that positively or negatively affect winemaking, and cost management factors. Emphasis will be put on comparative cultivation systems among conventional, organic and biodynamic techniques. An introduction to microbiology will help students completing all aspects related to enology. Students have the opportunity to learn directly from wine producers through a series of activities held in professional contexts. This course also features a field learning component in relevant Italian locations to supplement and enrich academic topic.
3 semester credits. This course introduces students to Italy's wine culture, tradition, and heritage as well as to the importance of wine within the Italian socio-economic framework and how to read an Italian wine label. The major grape varieties cultivated in Italy will be analyzed and an emphasis will be placed on the main wine production techniques in order to understand the winemaking processes for red, white, rosé, Italian sparkling, sweet, and fortified wines. Students will learn the differences among types and styles of wine according to the winemaking choices, developing a critical capability of analysis and classification.
3 semester credits. This course has been designed to provide students with an advanced working knowledge of wine appreciation. Emphasis is placed on sensory evaluation, deep flavor analysis, organoleptic components of wine, how to detect wine faults, and the role of chemistry in wine flavors. Course topics will be covered through a complete overview of the most important Italian wine Denominations. Students will be guided to professional wine appreciation that will include comparative, blind, and vertical wine tastings.
3 semester credits. This course presents, explains and analyzes the role of France as a reference model in the wine world. Course topics cover the historical and cultural origins of winemaking in France, the main native grape varieties as well as the major French wine production areas: Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace, Loire Valley, Provence and more, with detailed studies on wine characteristics according to the place of production. Students will be guided, also through wine tastings, throughout the french territory to gain an in-depth understanding the concepts of Terroir, Cru and the influence of France on international viticulture and wine styles.
3 semester credits. This course has been designed to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the main wine producing countries of the Old World as France, Spain, Germany, Austria, Portugal, Hungary, Greece, Slovenia and of course Italy. Students will be guided across Europe to discover the principal wine areas and native grape varieties, with a specific focus on the cultural heritage and winemaking tradition that belong to each country. Course topics include the different appellation systems, soil characteristics, and basics of winemaking process. The course also offers an introduction to wine tasting in order to better understand the original features of the wines from each country.
3 semester credits. This course continues the journey of world wines by focusing on countries of the “New World” in order to further develop students’ experience and knowledge. The countries to be studied are: United States of America (with a special emphasis on California), Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Chile and Argentina, and some newcomers. Students will participate in comparative tastings to be able to conduct a critical analysis of wines produced in different parts of the New World, with the usual emphasis on the relationship between sensory properties of the wines and factors associated with their place of origin.
3 semester credits. This course focuses on successful wine and bar management. Students will study the progression from the concepts related to wine bar operations to a comprehensive vision of successfully managing a wine bar business. Course topics focus on wine bar financing, staff management, analysis, and marketing. Students will learn the strategies and tools to effectively market and promote a wine bar-related business and effectively build a solid customer base without necessarily resorting to the traditional means of expensive and often ineffective forms of advertising. Prerequisites: An introductory hospitality course or Introduction to Management, or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This course focuses on the business and marketing aspects of the wine industry. Students will consider and analyze wine marketing including an introduction to communication theory, wine communication practices and trends, introduction to management and marketing theory, wine marketing strategies, and economics of the wine world industry. Course topics also cover distribution channels and sales strategies according to laws and regulations of each country, consumer demand and responsible drinking issues. Students will be able to identify the various career paths in the wine business according to their inclinations and personal skills.
6 semester credits. This course focuses on the business and marketing aspects of the wine industry. Students will consider and analyze wine marketing including an introduction to communication theory, wine communication practices and trends, introduction to management and marketing theory, wine marketing strategies, and economics of the wine world industry. Course topics also cover distribution channels and sales strategies according to laws and regulations of each country, consumer demand and responsible drinking issues. Students will be able to identify the various career paths in the wine business according to their inclinations and personal skills. 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.
3 semester credits. Students enrolled in the Wine Service Beverage Management special project will be acquire skills related to managing the wine and beverage service at Ganzo and Fedora, the school restaurant and pastry shop/bistro of Apicius International School of Hospitality. Under the leadership and supervision of wine service professionals, students will also have the opportunity to develop an understanding of the activities, functions, and organization of a restaurant and/or wineries. Students will also learn how to maintain weekly records of sales and wine costs. The aim of the special project is to increase knowledge of wine service, presentation methods, restaurant procedures, wine expertise, and pairing in the hospitality industry. EL hours may be distributed from Monday through Friday. This placement may require PM shifts or shifts that take place on weekends/holidays, or ongoing research-based activities for remote placements. This special project course features 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. Remote option students will gain international community exposure through a virtual setting. 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. Main tasks: Beverage industry research and market trends analysis, wine service practices, operational involvement and analysis, customer care standards and practices, consumer trend observations and projections, strategic planning for the wine industry, final portfolio. Additional materials/Dress code: Black trousers and clean safety (closed) shoes required. A t-shirt and apron will be provided for a refundable deposit fee. Not applicable to remote option. Prerequisites: Cover letter, CV, and material pertinent to the chosen area, interview.