Viticulture and Enology

Grappoli d'uva
Viticulture and Enology
Course sheet
A.Y. 2024/2025
Bachelor
L-25 - Agriculture and forestry industry
Bachelor
180
ECTS
Access
Limited enrolment with admission test
3
Years
Course location
Milan
Language
Italian
International title
Double Degree
The Degree course in Viticulture and Enology assures an interdisciplinary training on the biological and technological principles related to the cultivation of vines and the production of wine. The course provides professional competence to technicians devoted to work in the viticulture, enology and wineries management sectors. The curriculum is based on a solid scientific training (including the fundamentals of biological, chemical and physical sciences) and on specific courses, aimed at providing agro-technological and managerial skills. The courses program is aimed at deepening the scientific principles of the vine cultivation and wine production, on the basis of the biological, physical and chemical fundamentals necessary for their full understanding. With this in mind, a particular style of vine cultivation or winemaking, as well as a specific method of managing the vineyard and cellar are not emphasized. On the contrary, the achievement of a unifying methodological and scientific competence it strongly favoured, in order to acquire autonomous vision and vocation. Thanks to a complementary teaching offer, each student is however encouraged to deepen the preferable application aspect in viticulture and/or wine production and/or in the management of the vine-winery company.
The winemaker is responsible for the management, administration and consultancy activities in vine companies for the grapes production and transformation, as well as the refinement, conservation, bottling and marketing of derived products. His/her activity also concerns the variety choice, the plant and the plant protection aspects of the vineyards. He/she can operate in managerial functions in organizations, associations and vine-wine consortia. He/she is qualified to carry out and certify microbiological, enochemical and sensorial analyzes on wines. He/she can collaborate in the design of vineyards and wineries, as well as in the choice of related technologies. Lastly, he/she is responsible for the distribution and marketing of grapevine products, including communication, marketing and image aspects. The aim of the course is to prepare technicians with specific skills in the viticulture and enology sector, qualified to the profession of winemaker in Italy and in Europe, in accordance with law no. 129 ? 10th April 1991 and subsequent modifications. Further professional opportunities may concern the beverage industry (those fermented in particular), food distribution, as well as publishing sector and technical-scientific information on wine.

Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
The opportunity of studying in the framework of the Erasmus + Program, the rules for participation and the criteria for the selection of students are indicated in a specific call for applications for the Food Science Area. Mobility is provided towards 30 partner universities widely distributed in Europe, selected on the base of their teaching affinity with the course of study (degree program) and notoriety in the specific area. The areas of study that can be developed abroad include physiology, genetics and viticulture techniques, chemistry and wine microbiology, wine-making technologies, sensory analysis and marketing of the wine commerce. The learning agreement is outlined in collaboration with the person in charge for the Erasmus of the degree program, as regards both the choice of courses and the organization of the internship at the partner university. Students must obtain the formal approval of the examinations that they intend to carry out at the host university from professors who hold equivalent or similar teachings at the University of Milan before completing the learning agreement. As regards experimental activities abroad, which can constitute part or the entire program of the internship, a letter of agreement from a professor of the partner university is required, along with the formal approval on the objectives, on the program and on the term of the internship by a professor of the degree program, who will also act as supervisor. At the end of the study period abroad, students must hand in the transcript of records released by the host university and they obtain, by the approbation of the Teaching Board, credits and votes recognition on the base of a default conversion scale. The degree course offers integrated study programmes that award joint/multiple degrees (https://www.unimi.it/en/international/study-abroad/double-degree).
Course attendance is strongly recommended.
Enrolment
Admission requirements

Applicants to the degree programme must hold a secondary-school diploma, or other equivalent qualification, and a suitable background of knowledge in scientific subjects (mathematics, chemistry, physics and biology).

Assessment of the personal qualification

Admission into this Bachelor's degree programme is capped in order to meet high-quality teaching standards relative to the available resources. There are 80 places available for enrolment in the first year, plus 5 places for non-EU students residing abroad and 4 places for Progetto Marco Polo students.
Access to the programme is regulated by a compulsory, selective test to ascertain that the candidate meets admission requirements, i.e. knowledge of key science subjects as provided by secondary school, and an understanding of elementary logic.
The test required for admission into the degree programme is TOLC-AV, an online test provided by the Consortium of Inter-University Integrated Access Systems (CISIA - https://www.cisiaonline.it).
For test topics and details, please review the page: https://www.cisiaonline.it/en/area-tematica-tolc-agraria-veterinaria/struttura-della-prova-e-syllabus/
You may sit for the TOLC-AV test at the University of Milan or any other member university of CISIA.
The calendar with available venues and dates is posted to the page https://tolc.cisiaonline.it/calendario.php?l=gb.
Registration procedures and deadlines are set out in the call for applications posted to the page: https://viticolturaenologia.cdl.unimi.it/it/iscriversi
Only students high enough in the merit ranking will be eligible for enrolment.

Admission of transfer or graduate students

Transfer students from a degree programme of the University of Milan, or another university, and graduate students will be waived from the test requirement only if admitted to years subsequent to Year I.
To this end, they will have to submit a specific request for prior assessment of their academic records using the online service as shown in the call for applications.
These candidates must provide a full transcript of records (listing exams, subject areas, credits, grades) and attach the course syllabi. For more details and dates, please refer to the call for applications.
Students admitted to the first year will be required to take the test and register for the call.

Additional learning requirements (OFA) and remedial activities

Students who are admitted with a score lower than or equal to 4 in the Mathematics section of the TOLC-AV test will have to fulfil additional learning requirements (OFA). Remedial activities will be organized for students with OFA (in the period October-December), both as online exercises on an e-learning platform and as discussion sessions with a tutor. After participating in remedial activities, new students will have to take a final assessment test. Mathematics OFA are prerequisites for all second- and third-year exams. For students who have not passed the OFA final test during the first year, passing the Mathematics exam is a prerequisite for all second- and third-year exams.
Learn more at https://viticolturaenologia.cdl.unimi.it/it/studiare/le-matricole

Places available: 80 + 5 reserved for non-EU citizens

Call for applications

Please refer to the call for admission test dates and contents, and how to register.

Session: 1

Application for admission: from 14/03/2024 to 13/06/2024

Application for matriculation: from 18/06/2024 to 01/07/2024

Read the Call

Session: 2

Application for admission: from 04/07/2024 to 12/09/2024

Application for matriculation: from 18/09/2024 to 25/09/2024

Read the Call

Programme description and courses list
year
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Plant Biology 8 64 Italian BIO/01 BIO/03
First semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
General and Inorganic Chemistry 6 60 Italian CHIM/03
Mathematics 6 68 Italian MAT/02
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Agronomy 6 56 Italian AGR/02
Elements of Economics 6 48 Italian AGR/01
Organic Chemistry 6 56 Italian CHIM/06
Physics 6 64 Italian FIS/07
Open sessions
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
English Assessment B1 (3 ECTS) 3 0 English
year
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Enology 1 10 96 Italian AGR/15
First semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Agricultural Chemistry 10 80 Italian AGR/13
- Plant physiology and biochemistry6
- Soil chemistry4
Enological and Fermentations Chemistry 6 52 Italian CHIM/11
Microbiology 6 56 Italian AGR/16
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Biology and Genetics of Grapevines 8 72 Italian AGR/03
Computer Skills, Statistics and Data Management in the Winery 9 88 Italian
Enochemical Analysis 6 64 Italian AGR/15
Open sessions
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Stage 10 0 Italian
year
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Vineyard Protection 11 104 Italian AGR/11 AGR/12
Viticultural and Enological Engineering 11 112 Italian AGR/09
First semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Enological Microbiology 6 56 Italian AGR/16
Management of Vinicultural Firm and Marketing Elements 8 72 Italian AGR/01
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Enology 2 11 92 Italian AGR/15
- Sensory Analysis5
- Technologies and enological processes6
Viticulture: Cultivation Techniques 6 64 Italian AGR/03
Conclusive activities
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Final Exam 3 0 Italian
year
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Viticultural Practices 4 64 Italian AGR/03 AGR/09 AGR/11 AGR/12 AGR/15 AGR/16
First semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Brewing and Spirits Technology 4 32 Italian AGR/15
Cultivation of Plants for Beer, Liqueurs and Spirits Production 4 32 Italian AGR/04
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Applied Agrometeorology in a Changing Climate 4 38 Italian AGR/03
Cereals for Malts and Other Semi-Finished Products Preparation 4 32 Italian AGR/15
Sustainable Management of Fungal Diseases of Grapevine 4 40 Italian AGR/12
Study plan rules
- The student must acquire 12 CFU by selecting any of the courses offered by the University of Milan, provided that they are coherent with their educational plan.
The Didactic Board of Viticulture and Enology proposes, in the table below, some training activities.
See also the paragraph Structure of the course - Presentation of the study plan.
As part of the free-choice activities, the opportunity to carry out a second internship is offered, also possibly with an external company, in accordance with the University's procedures. In this case, the activities to be carried out during the internship will be under the direct responsibility of a university tutor and should not be considered a mere repetition of those carried out during the first one. The second internship will lead to the acquisition of 4 CFU.
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Viticultural Practices 4 64 Italian year AGR/03 AGR/09 AGR/11 AGR/12 AGR/15 AGR/16
Brewing and Spirits Technology 4 32 Italian First semester AGR/15
Cultivation of Plants for Beer, Liqueurs and Spirits Production 4 32 Italian First semester AGR/04
Applied Agrometeorology in a Changing Climate 4 38 Italian Second semester AGR/03
Cereals for Malts and Other Semi-Finished Products Preparation 4 32 Italian Second semester AGR/15
Sustainable Management of Fungal Diseases of Grapevine 4 40 Italian Second semester AGR/12
The course contains the following obligatory or advised prerequisites:
Prescribed foundation courses
Learning activityPrescribed foundation courses
Agricultural Chemistry Organic Chemistry (compulsory)
Biology and Genetics of Grapevines Agricultural Chemistry (compulsory), Plant Biology (compulsory)
Enochemical Analysis Organic Chemistry (compulsory)
Enological Microbiology Microbiology (compulsory)
Enological and Fermentations Chemistry Organic Chemistry (compulsory)
Enology 1 Enological and Fermentations Chemistry (compulsory), Physics (compulsory)
Enology 2 Enology 1 (compulsory)
Microbiology Plant Biology (compulsory)
Organic Chemistry General and Inorganic Chemistry (compulsory)
Viticulture: Cultivation Techniques Agronomy (compulsory), Biology and Genetics of Grapevines (compulsory)
Learn more
Location
Milan
Head of study programme
Academic guidance tutor
Erasmus and international mobility tutor 
Quality Assurance Delegate
Contacts

The tuition fees for students enrolled in Bachelor's, Master's and single-cycle degree programmes are divided into two instalments with different calculation methods and payment schedules:

  • The amount of the first instalment is the same for all students
  • The amount of the second instalment varies according to the ISEE University value, the degree programme and the student status (on track / off track for one year or off track for more than a year) 
  • An additional fee is due for online programmes

The University also offers:

  • Concessions for students meeting high merit requirements
  • Diversified tuition fees according to the student's home country for international students with assets/income abroad
  • Concessions for international students with refugee status

Scholarships and benefits

The University provides a range of financial benefits to students meeting special requirements (merit, financial or personal conditions, international students).

Learn more