ESA – Ecole Supérieure des Agricultures
Master in Vine, Wine and Terroir Management
Located in the central part of the Loire Valley, the Ecole Supérieure des Agricultures of Angers offers a unique master’s program in vine, wine and terroir management, where students have the opportunity to study in Portugal, Italy and France.
The master in vine, wine and terroir management seeks to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the wine sector, from soil to consumer. The objective is to help students acquire scientific, cultural and economic knowledge as well as the technical and strategic skills of grape growing and ripening, wine production and management.
Consistent with this overall objective, the study program particularly focuses on the concept of terroir, providing students with the expertise to characterize, protect and promote wine diversity and identity. Established in 2002, this master’s is a joint collaboration between higher education institutions, bringing together various competencies in the field of viticulture, enology and wine business on an international scale.
Curriculum
The full-fledged English curriculum of the wine sector combines scientific, cultural and economic knowledge with various field activities and applied case studies. The curriculum was designed to help students develop: 1) Technical skills in vineyard establishment and terroir management, grape and wine quality improvement, winemaking techniques and sensory analysis, and dealing with changing environmental issues. 2) Strategic skills in defining wine identity and diversity, wine markets and brands, wine firms and sectors, and national and international wine business strategies.
To help students meet these standards, the curriculum is based on a strong partnership between partner universities, associated partners and various public and private professionals in the wine sector. These professional actors play an active part in the master’s through classroom teaching, field excursions and case studies, enabling students to understand and address current issues in the wine sector while beginning to define their professional career projects.
Degree and Certificate
Completion of the master’s program leads to a National French (state-approved) degree of Science (MSc, French DNM). This master’s degree is accredited by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research and jointly awarded with the associated partner, the University of Angers, France. During the third semester, the students also can complete the WSET Level 3 certification as it is a mandatory course within the master’s degree.
Mobility Scheme
The curriculum comprises two academic years, divided into four semesters of 30 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). During the first three semesters, students attend courses at three European partner institutions: First semester at the Universidade de Trás-Os-Montes e Alto Douro (Vila Real, Portugal), second semester at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Piacenza, Italy) and the third semester at the Ecole Supérieure des Agricultures (Coordinator, Angers, France). The students remain together for the duration of the first three semesters. Another individual mobility, during the fourth and final semester (master thesis), is possible to other partner institutions or countries such as Spain, Hungary and South Africa. This mobility scheme aims to provide students with a rich cultural experience and international exposure to the wine industry.
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DEGREE & CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
- MSc in Vine, Wine and Terroir Management
- WSET Level 3 Certification
