Italy

Course Title and Schedule

FDSC/HORT 499: Comparing the Science and Business of Wine in the US and Italy

• Spring: 2 credits, meeting on campus during the second half of the semester
• Summer: 0.25 credits, meeting in Italy from May 12 – 25, 2025

Course Description

This course provides an interdisciplinary treatment of the science of grape growing, vinification, and wine marketing in Italy. Students will learn how viticultural practices translate to wine chemistry, and how key variables associated with that conversion affect consumer perception and acceptability.

Topics include

• basic grapevine physiology
• vineyard management practices
• vinification
• Italian wine styles
• consumer interactions with wine (e.g., branding, promotion, and tasting room sales strategies).

Course material will be primarily transmitted through lectures, reading assignments to be completed outside of class, practical exercises at a practical exercises at a commercial vineyard and winery in Trequanda (Province of Siena, Italy), and field trips to various wine production operations in the Italian regions of Toscana and Emilia Romagna.

Approximate Expenses

We will not know the per student cost of this trip until late in the fall semester because the final cost depends on the final number of enrolled students, travel logistics associated with the finalized itinerary, and final airfare costs.

Estimated costs based on 20 participants:

• Round-Trip Airfare: $800 - 1100
• Program Fee (including hotels, ground transportation, several meals, etc): $3026
• *Understand that these costs could vary depending on airfare costs and number of participants
• Scholarship funding guaranteed for Food Science and Plant Science/Horticulture majors to lower this cost

Scholarships available: http://agsci.psu.edu/international/study-abroad/funding

Application and FAQs

Application link https://forms.gle/dh89oxkCFnTw2Su46. Due NOVEMBER 1, 2024

For Additional Information

Faculty Leaders:

• Dr. Ryan Elias, rje12@psu.edu
• Dr. Michela Centinari, mzc22@psu.edu
• Dr. Kathy Kelley, kmk17@psu.edu

Sustainable Development Goals:

This course is most closely aligned with SDGs 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and 15: Life on Land.