FdSc Wine Production & Business Management

Fast-track your wine career: hands-on vineyard training plus business management skills.

Immerse yourself in wine production and business management with Plumpton’s new degree. Gain practical experience in vineyards and wineries, learn viticulture, winemaking, and management, and complete a 150-hour industry placement. Blended block delivery aligns with the harvest season.

This foundation degree in Wine Production and Business Management offers a fast-track route into the wine industry, combining practical vineyard and winery experience with essential business and marketing skills. You’ll learn how to manage a commercial vineyard, become an industry-recognised winemaker, and be able to analyse wine quality and gain hands-on experience at Plumpton’s vineyards and onsite winery. Plumpton's SMART Centenary Vineyard, focuses on agri-tech and precision winemaking. It's conveniently located close to Brighton and other transport hubs.

The programme is aligned with the Wine National Competency Framework (NCF)—endorsed by WineGB and the Vintners’ Company—ensuring graduates meet recognised industry standards. With a delivery model tailored to the wine production calendar and a start to integrate harvest experience, you’ll gain real-world insight from day one.

Why study wine production and wine business management at Plumpton?

• 150-hour industry placement for practical experience

• Core topics include vineyard management, winery engineering, wine science, and ethical wine marketing

• Developed with industry input and endorsed by leading wine organisations

• Progression route to BSc Viticulture & Oenology

• The University of Greenwich is Plumpton's internationally recognised validating partner

Plumpton College is the UK’s leading provider of wine education, home to the Wine Centre of Excellence and recipient of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize (2024) for its contribution to the English and Welsh wine industry.

This refreshed degree allows you to gain technical and business expertise to thrive in the wine industry and gives you the option to follow a wine business management pathway or a wine production pathway.

Year 1 - indicative modules

In the first year you will study:

• Viticulture & Vineyard Management

• Wine Science & Sensory Analysis

• Ethical Sales & Marketing of Wine

• Practical & Academic Skills for Wine Degrees

• Enrichment: French for Wine Students (optional, non-assessed)

Year 2 - indicative modules

In the second year you will be able to tailor your focus to either a business management or production.

• Wine Production & Analysis (production-focused)

• Sustainable Vineyard & Winery Design (production-focused)

• Marketing & Content Creation (business-focused)

• Strategic Management & Consultancy (business-focused)

• Optional (15 credits): Sparkling & Cool-Climate Styles; Industry Work Placement; Research Methods and Statistics

Please note: modules are subject to validation. Please speak to an advisor for more details.

Assessment is through a combination of coursework and assessments, typically weighted towards practical and applied learning. Coursework includes vineyard and winery evaluations, sensory analysis of wine, laboratory reports, and business projects such as marketing plans and financial case studies. You’ll also complete presentations and reflective portfolios linked to your 150-hour industry placement. Assessments are designed to assess your understanding of viticulture, wine science, and business principles. Detailed feedback is provided to support your development throughout the programme.

Please apply via UCAS – course code W600; institution code P59.

• The minimum entry requirement is 56 UCAS tariff points.

We consider a wide range of Level 3 equivalent qualifications in science related subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Horticulture, Agriculture, and Physics.

Level 3 qualifications considered includes T-levels, A-levels and Extended Diplomas (L3), Irish Highers, Scottish Highers, as well as Access to HE qualifications. We would also consider candidates who have completed a Level 3 Crop Technician (Viticulture) apprenticeship.

In addition to the above Level 3 qualifications, candidates must have at least five GCSEs at grade 4 (or above) and this must include English Language (Grade 4 or above) and Maths (Grade 4 or above).

Candidates will also need to complete the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines prior to starting on the course.

Students must be a minimum of 18 years old upon entry.

Students with English as a second language will be required to have gained IELTS Level 6.5 overall with Level 6.0 in writing.

Mature students with relevant industrial experience, but without the minimum academic qualifications, may be eligible for entry. This will be assessed at interview using a portfolio evidence and employer references.

As part of the admissions process, you may be invited to attend an interview or professional discussion. This helps us understand your motivation, experience, and suitability for the programme. Interviews may be conducted online or on campus.

_{Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on this course page. However, Plumpton College reserves the right to make changes to course content, structure, and delivery as part of its commitment to continuous improvement. Courses are reviewed regularly to ensure they remain current, flexible, and relevant. For the most up-to-date and detailed information, please contact us directly.}

Tuition fees

In addition to tuition fees, students should budget for costs typically associated with higher education, such as stationery, core textbooks, and printing. Due to the practical nature of this programme, you may also need:

• Protective clothing and footwear for vineyard and winery work (approx. £50–£100)
• Lab coat and safety glasses (approx. £25)
• Optional study trips and industry visits (variable cost)
• Travel and accommodation for the 150-hour industry placement (costs depend on location)

All essential teaching resources, access to Plumpton’s vineyards, winery, and labs are included in your tuition fee. Please note costs are indicative and may be subject to change.

Funding and Scholarships

Plumpton offers a range of financial support to students from a hardship fund to scholarships. The Plumpton Wine Scholarship aims to remove financial barriers for passionate and talented individuals who wish to pursue careers in wine business, production, or wine science. The Plumpton Wine Scholarship covers 50% of tuition fee costs in year 1 and 2 of study and there are two scholarships available for each academic year. Please speak to a member of the wine team for more information.