Gain a 360º perspective on the world of wine.

They say love moves us, coffee propels us, and wine saves us. There are different kinds of wine too. Whites with the soul of reds, pink bubbles, and stories behind each bottle. Tales filled with excitement and passion, but also strategy, knowledge, and discipline. This Master's program aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the wine sector or, more precisely, the liquid art.

During the master's, students will explore the technical language characteristic of areas such as oenology and wine tasting, while also gaining knowledge in sommelier skills and wine pairings. They will also specialize in topics related to marketing, promotion, distribution, and wine export.

Our goal is to provide all the necessary tools and resources for students to develop their professional careers in the area that interests them most within the wine sector, whether it's in a winery, sales and distribution, the restaurant industry, or the world of wine tourism. Everything adds up, nurtures, and should be shared.

Practical information

• Start date: january, 2025

• Number of credits: 60 ECTS

• Campus-Based Learning at Basque Culinary Center

• Duration: 9 months in total

  • 6 months of on-site training (january to june 2025)

  • 3 months of external internships (july to october 2025)

• Schedule

  • Monday to Thursday from 15:00  to 20:00h (CEST)

• 20 spots available

• Master's program offered by MONDRAGON UNIBERTSITATEA and delivered by the Faculty of Gastronomic Sciences at Basque Culinary Center

• For inquiries and more information, please contact cursos@bculinary.com

​Master'S Objectives

• Understand the value chain of wine, from the vineyard to the consumer, including the processes of production, aging, marketing, and distribution.

• Identify and characterize the main types of wines, spirits, liquors, and other beverages, as well as the most relevant production regions worldwide.

• Develop the sensory skills required to conduct professional tastings of wines and other beverages.

• Manage all processes and services related to the wine and beverage sector in a restaurant, from designing the offering and managing the wine cellar to developing sales techniques in the restaurant and gourmet food pairings.

• Acquire the necessary knowledge to analyze markets and establish marketing strategies and promotional activities in the world of wine, both in the domestic and international markets.

Career Opportunities

We know that professional opportunities can vary depending on geographical location and individual preferences of the students; however, with this program, participants can take on roles and functions in the following positions and fields:

• Wineries:

  • Technical-commercial and marketing area (national and export).

  • Communication and consultancy.

  • Institutional organizations:

  • Related to the production and promotion of the world of wine and gastronomy (Designations of Origin, interprofessional associations, consortia, etc.).

• Distribution sector:

  • Purchasing manager.

  • Professional customer relations.

  • Organization of tastings and events management.

• Wine shops.

  • Online sales.

  • Distribution to professionals.

• Restaurant sector

  • Wine expert.

  • Gourmet pairings.

  • Sommelier.

• Entrepreneurship:

  • In the enogastronomy sector.

  • Wine tourism.

Listen to our students

10+1 Reasons

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The Master's program is aimed at individuals with the following profiles:

• University graduates or holders of degrees in Vocational Training in fields ranging from Business and Tourism to Gastronomy, Agricultural Engineering, Communication, Humanities, Sommelier, among others.

• Graduates in marketing, distribution, or sales in companies related to the wine industry seeking specialized training.

• Individuals aspiring to develop their careers in the wine sector with existing experience in marketing, distribution, or sales in other industries.

• Hospitality professionals with solid experience looking for a career change to advance professionally.

• Individuals coming from families involved in the wine business looking to expand their knowledge to contribute to the family business.

• Professionals with experience in oenology who want to explore other aspects, such as marketing, sales, or gastronomy, within the wine context.

• Professionals with a background and/or experience in marketing departments looking to pivot toward the wine sector.

• Professionals seeking an opportunity to reinvent themselves in the wine industry and require specific training.

Language Requirements:

• A good command of English will be positively evaluated.

If you don't see your profile reflected in the above points but are interested in the Master's program, don't hesitate to apply. We will consider your education and experience and get in touch with you.

Programme

The Master's Degree study programme gives students overall competencies, supplemented with a period of work placement during which the final project is prepared.

Master's thesis

You will develop a supervised project throughout the learning process, which you will submit one week after the end of in-person classes. The project will consist of:

• Developing a marketing plan for a real or fictitious product or company.

• Contextualizing a wine based on its region of origin, grape variety, and production process, as well as its gastronomic and service applications.

Curricular Internship

After completing the academic period, you will put into practice everything you have learned over three months and gain real-life experiences in national or international companies and institutions related to the wine industry.

The Faculty of Gastronomic Sciences has collaboration agreements with over 700 companies in the wine, restaurant, and tourism sectors. You will be able to carry out internships in:

• Wineries: wine tourism, marketing, or export.

• Wine distributors.

• Specialized wine shops.

• Institutions related to the wine world.

• Restaurants where the wine list and pairings are key to the gastronomic offering.

External internships are an excellent opportunity to apply what you have learned during the course and acquire new professional skills. If you prefer, you can request credit for them by providing evidence of your professional experience.

Calendar

• Total Duration: 9 months

• Number of credits: 60 ECTS 

• Academic Period: january to june , 2025

• Schedule: monday to thursday from 15:00  to 20:00h (CEST)

• Curricular Internships: july to october 2025 (3 months)

Methodology

The Master's program is delivered using the "learning by doing" methodology, which is based on the idea that the best way to learn is through practical experience and direct action. Instead of focusing solely on theory and passive instruction, this methodology promotes students acquiring knowledge and skills by actively participating in practical activities and real projects.

The teaching and learning process is based on the following dynamics:

• Learning sessions in which the concepts and content of each module of the training program will be worked on.

• Practical case studies led by experts and master's program professors that allow for group dynamics, debates, and reflections.

• Masterclasses with over 40 invited experts in the fields of wine, marketing, and gastronomy, who will provide firsthand experiences and knowledge of the industry.

• Wine tasting workshops, where you will have the opportunity to taste over 400 references from around the world.

• Tastings, pairings, and other culinary activities guided by professors and guest experts that will help you consolidate the knowledge acquired.

• Knowledge activation activities: readings, exercises, etc.

• Learning journeys to four renowned wine regions, where you will gain a global perspective on the exciting wine sector. You will visit the most prestigious wineries to experience firsthand a range of experiences, from the most traditional to the most innovative. Some of the wine destinations visited in previous editions include Navarra, Jerez, a region unique in the world for the singularity of the wines produced there, Rioja, Txakoli, Burdeos, and Cava.

Teachers and guests

Learn from Industry Experts with Experience!

Students will have the opportunity to learn from accomplished professionals in the field, recognized for their academic, intellectual, and social influence, as well as their impactful contributions. The program features a panel of instructors composed of seasoned culinary experts with specialized knowledge in the field of Gastronomy.

Expert collaborators

Fees / Grants

The total cost of the Master's program is €10,700, which will be paid as follows:

• €150 upon application (fully refundable in case of non-admission).

• 25% of the total, €2.745 upon admission confirmation as a reservation fee.

• The remaining amount to be paid in 3 installments of €2.745 in January, March, and May 2024.

The program price includes:

• Academic materials.

• Learning journeys (transport, visits, accommodation, and breakfast).

• Seminars and masterclasses with guest experts.

• Management of curricular internships.

• Issuance and delivery of the diploma.

• Access to over 5,000 references from the Faculty's library.

• Graduation ceremony.

• Enrollment in the Basque Culinary Center alumni service: Bculinary Alumni.

Admission

Basque Culinary Center has an admissions system aimed at ensuring that our students have the academic level and personal competencies necessary to successfully complete an innovative and demanding curriculum. After completing the application process, the Admissions Committee will select the admitted candidates.

For any queries or further information, please contact admisiones@bculinary.com 

Student service

Accommodation

More information about accommodation here

Other accommodation options

Religious residences

These types of residence are small and have restricted entrance times. The rooms can be single or double and they do not always have an ensuite bathroom. Those that offer full board may not offer all the meals at weekends. Admission to these residences entails a personal interview with the families. The prices given below are approximate.
 

Female residences

Male residences

Secular residences

These are mixed and are larger than the religious residences. As a general rule, they do not have entrance times.

Mixed residences

Accommodation in shared flats

Prior authorisation from interested parties, the BCC Students'Office favours contact among admitted students so that they can organise themselves to share flats. Traditionally, students have created groups in social media to contact each other. The BCC also informs students about rented flat offers that the owners send us. The average price per student in a shared flat in Donostia-San Sebastian is around €300 per month.

Procedures before travelling

Students from European Union member countries, Norway, Switzerland. Liechtenstein and Iceland will not require a visa to reside in Spain.

Other international students will have to request a long-term student visa which will allow them to reside in Spain for a period longer than 180 days.

Visas should be requested from, and issued by the Diplomatic Missions and Spanish Consul Offices abroad.  It is important to obtain information on the required documentation and gather it as soon as possible, since the relevant authorities may take up to two months to notify that visas will be granted.

Once students have arrived in Donostia-San Sebastian, they have one month from the time of their arrival to request the foreign students’ card at the Foreign Residents Office in Donostia-San Sebastian. The students’ office of the BCC will provide the necessary information to students in this matter.

Sport service

Through the MU Sports Service, students can access team sports as well as individual sporting activities and Group trips (weekend skiing, surfing trips….).

Donostia-San Sebastian also has an extensive offer of municipal sporting facilities. The Kirol Txartela (sport card) permits access to all the city’s municipal facilities at a very economical price. For more information, go to the following link.

Cost of living info

Information on the COST OF LIVING in San Sebastian is given below:

Donostia - San Sebastián

Donostia-San Sebastian is the administrative capital of Gipuzkoa, one of the territories that integrates the Basque Country. There are two official languages: Spanish and Basque.

On the banks of the Bay of Biscay,, Donostia-San Sebastián is a small town within a natural framework of incomparable beauty. A holiday destination for monarchs and nobles during the Belle Epoque, Donostia-San Sebastian arose as a lordly city where tradition and modernity exist side by side.

If there is something that can compete with its spectacular beauty that is its gastronomy: cradle of the “new Basque cuisine”, Mecca of culinary avant-garde and the world capital of the pintxo, Donostia-San Sebastian is the city with the most Michelin stars per square metres in the world. The importance of its restaurants, its famous gastronomic societies and the quality of its raw material convert Donostia-San Sebastian into a gastronomic reference in the world. Not in vain, the British magazine, “Which”, chose Donostia-San Sebastian as the best gastronomic destination in the world.

Over the last few years, innovation and sustainability have been the two main pillars for the development of Donostia-San Sebastian, which has fostered an ideal city of pedestrians and bicycles.

Why study gastronomy in Donostia-San Sebastian?:

• ecause in Donostia-San Sebastian, as in the rest of the Basque Country, gastronomy forms part of society and good food is present at any event and celebration. Donostia-San Sebastian, a city of 185,000 inhabitants, has 120 gastronomic societies.
• Because four of the eight restaurants with three Michelin stars in Spain are in the Basque Country, three of them in Donostia-San Sebastian.
• Because of its cultural offer, which includes internationally renowned film and jazz festivals. Donostia-San Sebastian has been named as European Capital of Culture for 2016.
• Due to its beaches, ideal for practicing surf all year round.
• Due to its mountains, just 2.5 hours from the Pyrenees.
• Because it is a safe, accessible and welcoming city.

How to reach Donostia-San Sebastian

Donostia-San Sebastian is connected to the main Spanish cities by bus, train and plane. The airport of Donostia-San Sebastian is 20 kilometres from the city. It is a small airport with direct flights from Madrid and Barcelona. It has a bus service to the city centre. The international airport of Bilbao is one hour from Donostia-San Sebastian, and it is connected to the city with a frequent bus service from the actual airport. The international airport of Biarritz is 45 minutes away although it only offers a direct bus to Donostia-San Sebastian once a day. DISTANCE IN KMS.

• Bilbao – 99 km
• Biarritz – 50 km
• Madrid – 450 km
• Barcelona – 570 km

BCulinary Alumni

You can access all the information in the following link.