MBA Wine & Spirits Business

Overview
Curriculum
Admissions & Fees
Employability
Student Support

Join our top-level graduate programme in the heart of the world’s most famous vineyards

BSB's MBA Wine & Spirits Business is a high-level training course, ranked second best international MBA taught in France (Le Moci 2021).

With a strong strategic, commercial and management focus, this intense programme gives you a sound grasp of the requirements of the global market by offering a range of cultural experiences and developing your understanding of the intricacies of the global business of wine and spirits.

It is ideal for those looking to reach middle to upper managerial positions in the industry or create their own business.

Year after year, students tell us that the content of our programme, together with the diversity of high-achieving students joining this MBA from all regions of the world, make it a truly life changing experience!

At a glance
Timeline:
Sept - August (courses over 1 academic year)
August - Dec (professional thesis + optional internship)
Eligibility:
Bachelor's in any subject and more than 3 years work experience
Language:
100% English taught
Fees:
34,000
Next intake:
September 2024
Location:
Dijon
A welcome message from our Programme Director
Dive into the world of wine and spirits
Surrounded by UNESCO-recognised vineyards and exposed to powerful secrets of wine and spirits production, commerce and innovation, we invite you to be engaged, committed, curious, and adventurous.
One of the goals of this programme is to expose you to a very global industry, with key consumption markets on three continents, emerging markets on three more, and production areas scattered all over the world.
You will benefit from a small class size and close contact with professors, lecturers and high-level professional speakers, both inside and outside the classroom.
Jacques Thébault
Programme Director  
AMBA:  Association of Masters of Business Administration 

AMBA accreditation denotes the highest standard of achievement in postgraduate business education. 

MBA students and graduates, Business Schools, and employers all recognise AMBA accreditation as a gold standard.

Hear from one of our students

"I felt really honoured to be a part of such a smart and talented group of people..."

As an American, Jacylyn was keen to learn about traditional winemaking methods and French culture, so BSB was a natural choice for her. Watch our short interview to hear more about how much she valued the small class size and exposure to those with shared ambition and passion, but different backgrounds, cultures and perspectives.

Jacylyn Stokes

MBA Wine & Spirits Business, BSB Class of 2020

Burgundy: A world-renowned wine region
Wine culture and landscapes
Wine culture & landscape like no other

We sit on the legendary Wine Route sprinkled with vineyards and the very best wines in the world:

  • Romanée-Conti, Clos de Vougeot, Meursault, Pommard, Nuits-Saint-Georges at the heart of the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune.
  • The famous village of Chablis, including its appellation Grand Cru.
  • The villages of Givry and Rully in Saône-et-Loire and the Premiers Crus of the Côte Chalonnaise.
  • World-renowned Hospices de Beaune Wine Sale and international exposure boosted by the forthcoming opening of the International Gastronomy and Wine Exhibition Centre in Dijon.
Wine Culture in Burgundy School of Business
Exceptional character and tradition

Unique in the world, the “climates” (terroirs) of Burgundy’s vineyards were classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.

  • 29,000 hectares of vines over 2,000 years old
  • 4,200 winegrowers, traders and cooperatives
  • 1,247 plots of vines across 60 kilometres
  • 84 world-renowned Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC)
  • 36 Burgundy wines are in the top 50 most expensive wines of the world
  • 33 Grand Cru vineyards
  • 1 bottle out of every 2 produced in Burgundy is exported
Dijon 2nd Most popular Student city in France
Dijon: 2nd most popular student city

This MBA is based in Dijon where you will also benefit from our modern building providing a research laboratory dedicated to wines and spirits, with a speciality shop and a tasting room.

Home to 250,000 inhabitants including 34,000 students, Dijon offers a vibrant student life where people enjoy good living and a strong sense of community. The city is a rich mix between culture and food, plus plenty of trendy wine bars.

Each summer, Dijon resounds to the beat of free festivals: folk and jazz enthusiasts will enjoy concerts in our numerous parks and gardens.

An immersive experience in the world of wine and spirits

High level pedagogical content and a unique group dynamic

  • International faculty of experts: a Master of Wine, a winegrower, a world-renowned writer, numerous doctoral students, 14 permanent specialised faculty members
  • A programme manager with 25+ years of hands-on and managerial experience in the wine and spirits sector on 3 different continents
  • Guest speakers from a variety of professional and academic backgrounds, reflecting the international dimension of BSB.
  • Training in the world-famous certification Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is included (WSET 2 or 3 Wine and WSET 2 Spirits with a Master of Wine).
  • Acquire in-depth knowledge of specific business skills (strategy, management, law, marketing and commercial) required for the global wine and spirits market.
  • Face-to-face classes in small teaching groups (maximum 20 students) allowing for regular follow-up and interaction.
  • About 8 to 10 nationalities per class, creating cultural and professional diversity.

French classes included

As a BSB student enrolled on the MBA Wine & Spirits Business, you can benefit from an optional French as Foreign Language Intensive Course taking place before the MBA programme begins. For no extra cost, you can receive 45 hours of classes (15 hours per week) from September 6 to 24 before classes begin on September 27.

View curriculum
Network and gain insights into the global corporate world

In addition to professional conferences led by leaders of the wine and spirits industry and VIP Trade Fairs such as ProWein in Germany, you will also participate in various excursions:

  • New York - Distribution, Marketing & Communications
  • Germany - In Parternership with Geisenheim University
  • France - Visits to Burgundy & Champagne. Jura, Beaujolais or Rhône
  • London (virtual field trip) - Wine Exporting, Distribution, Retail Strategies & Production

Dive into the world of wine and spirits

Semester 1 - September to December

Free Intensive French Classes

As a BSB student enrolled on the MBA Wine & Spirits Business, you can benefit from an optional French as Foreign Language Intensive Course before the MBA programme begins for no extra cost. 

  • 45 hours of classes (15 hours per week) from September 2 to 20 before classes begin on September 23.

Strategic Management

  • Work on real case studies, master the methods to analyse and improve a business and learn how to become a specialised manager.
  • Wine and spirits marketing: planning, analysis tools, brand positioning, communication plans management, consumer profiles and behaviour, brand attributes, portfolio management, product and service positioning, PR and reputation management.
  • Company strategy, wine and society, industry challenges.
  • Evaluation of wine and spirits markets, business review (for example: La Compagnie des Indes or Bouchard Pères & Fils).
  • Wine business finance principles and economic environment.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility in the wine and spirits industry.

Law

  • Understanding the international legal environment of the wine and spirits industry.
  • Champagne wine and law seminar.
  • International and contemporary legal issues in the wine business.

Career and Leadership

  • Workshop in leadership
  • Personal branding
  • Entrepreneurship

Conferences and Field Trips

  • Meet senior-level professionals to be inspired and gather best practices.
  • France - Visits to Burgundy. Additional trip to Alsace or Rhône for instance.
Semester 2 - January to May

International Markets and Distribution

  • Logistics with a country focus on USA, China, Scandinavia, and France.
  • Wine exporting and retailing.
  • Real case study, for instance with Wines of Chile.
  • Wine buying process and negotiation training.

Strategic Management

  • Deepen your skills in strategy and business plan implementation.
  • Markets and main players: evaluating wine markets, advanced module.
  • Wine business finance (Part. 2)
  • Societal issues: wine, spirits and society.
  • Research for the professional thesis or business plan

Career and Leadership

  • Personal branding (Part. 2)
  • Entrepreneurship (Part. 2)
  • Managing people and organisations: how to manage a team all around the world.

Innovation

  • Learning about the latest product and marketing innovation in the industry.
  • Strategic planning, crisis management, and adapting to disruption in the wine business.

Product Knowledge

  • Spirits and liqueurs of the world (WSET 2 Spirits)

Conferences and Field Trips

  • Meeting inspiring professionals.
  • New York (USA) learning expedition for one week: Distribution, Marketing & Communications
  • Field trip in Dusseldorf (Germany) at the Prowein Trade Fair and to Geisenheim.
  • A field trip in Burgundy for instance at Domaine Ponsot
  • Field trip dedicated to Spirits: meeting with Couvreur and Cartron
  • Short virtual field trip in London (United Kingdom) : Wine Exporting, Distribution, Retail Strategies & Production
Semester 3 - June to December

Mandatory

In order to receive your diploma, you must submit a professional thesis or (under certain conditions) business plan at the end of this programme. This paper should contain strong professional writing, qualitative and/or quantitative research, recommendation and a firm conclusion of your analysis.

Optional

You can also choose to do an internship during this period. This should last for a maximum of six months, and you will need to obtain an internship contract. Your student status is valid until 31 December.

View admissions criteria
FAST PACED CURRICULUM
Professors at BSB continuously adapt their teaching methods and curriculum to keep up with the fast pace of change in today’s society. As a result, the exact list of guest speakers, field trip destinations, and elective modules offered each semester may vary from one year to the next depending on a speaker’s availability, travel limitations, or the curriculum itself.
Total 90 ECTS credits delivered
650 hours of face-to-face teaching
50 hours of corporate insights

Programme origins

1988
Creation of the International Trade in Wines and Spirits (CIVS) programme, accredited by the CGE for Specialised Masters in 1991.

2004
Creation of the Specialised Master in International Wine and Spirits Trade (CIVS) part-time in Paris.

2008
Creation of the MSc Wine Business, transformed in 2018 into today’s MBA programme.

2009
Creation of the Institute of Wine Management, precursor of the School of Wine and Spirits Business.

2012
Creation of the MSc Wine Management.

2013
On November 15, the School of Wine and Spirits Business (SWSB) opens.

2016
On July 1, opening of the Pavillon 1889 in Beaune, a unique place dedicated to the culture of Burgundy wines (modelled after the Pavillon de la Bourgogne at the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1889).

2017
Creation of the Wine & Spirits Business MBA.

Practical, hands-on teaching approach with real world projects
Students are given a unique opportunity to get engaged in buy-side or sell-side research roles, acquiring in-depth knowledge of corporate decision-making in an international arena and learning techniques that help students to assess acquisitions, manage cash flow, engage in market risk analysis and raise capital in financial markets.

The Chrono-diagnosis takes place over the course of one week and the name of the company is revealed at the last minute, making the project and research activity not only useful and fulfilling, but also exciting.

Admissions at a glance

100% English taught

Dijon
campus

30

Available seats per year

#2

Ranked 2nd in France for International MBAs by Le Moci

1 academic year on-site and 1 semester for the professional thesis

33

Average age of BSB's MBA students

A highly international experience

97%

International students
on BSB's MBA programme

25%

International students
across BSB's three campuses

Is this MBA programme right for me?


Whilst we're looking for people who have a proven interest in the world of wine and spirits, you don't need to be a specialist. Typically, 50-60% of the class comes from within the industry (e.g., export manager, wine consultant, food & beverage director, wine ambassador, purchasing manager, key account manager) and the remainder of the class comes from a rich variety of other professions and areas of expertise (finance, consulting, FMCG,...). Classes are typically 57-60% female and ages range from as young as 25 and up to 66 years old.

Entry requirements


Academics

Applicants should have:

  • A Bachelor’s degree.
  • At least three years of professional work experience in any fields.
  • A proven passion for wine and spirits.

Language

  • IELTS: 6.5
  • Duolingo: 125
  • TOEIC: 800
  • TOEFL IBTL: 90
  • Cambridge: B2
Application process

  1. Fill in our online application form.
  2. Video interview with our programme director.
  3. Receive your admission!

Key Dates

Rolling admissions: To be announced
Final deadline: 10th July 2024
Decision turnaround time: 2 weeks
Optional French as a Foreign Language intensive Seminar (2 levels): To be announced
Classes start: 23rd September 2024

Fees and financial aid

Contact Us

Tuition fees for the MBA Wine & Spirits Business are €34,000. This rate is guaranteed throughout your course and is all-inclusive covering tuition, academic support, conferences and field trips with travel and lodging (students accommodation). Please note, it is your responsibility to obtain any necessary visas for the trips, and our Student Services Department can also assist you with this process.

Payment plans

Scholarships for international students

For the September 2024 intake, we are offering scholarships which reduce your first year of tuition upto 50%.

The sooner you apply, the greater your chances

Calendar of scholarships will be as follows:

  • December 15th, 2023
  • January 15th, 2024
  • February 15th, 2024
  • March 15th, 2024
  • April 15th, 2023
  • May 15th, 2024
  • June 15th, 2024
Lets Talk
Let's talk!

We'd be happy to answer any questions about our programmes, the application process, living in Dijon, or our impressive global alumni network.

Contact us or book a time in our calendar. We look forward to helping you!

Connections with research and the corporate world

Our faculty includes professors, teacher-researchers, and experts from the business world in order to strengthen the practical dimension of our teaching and enhance your employability.

The MBA Wine & Spirits Business opens up numerous career opportunities in middle and senior management positions in the wine and spirits sector.

Wine Management Graduates

Graduates typically go on to positions such as:

  • Managing Director, Founder, Business Unit Director, Area Manager, Portfolio Consultant
  • Marketing Director, Brand Manager, Brand Ambassador
  • International Account Supervisor, National or International Sales Manager, Key Account Manager, Export Director or Manager
  • Wine or Hospitality Educator
  • Communications Director, Public Relations Manager
  • Hospitality Manager, Event Manager
  • Purchasing Manager or Buyer
  • Finance Manager

Your professional network will be truly global. BSB offers many opportunities year round to connect with fellow professionals at various alumni events.

  • 17,000 BSB alumni including 2,000 wine and spirits professionals in leadership positions
Alumni Testimonial BSB
"Before I started my time at the School of Wines & Spirits Business, I was missing a strong network of industry professionals and I didn’t feel like I had a network in the industry I wished to work in. Today, I have that network and I have a better idea about the beverage industry!

When my CBC Web Series aired, I was honoured by the support that the school showed me. It was shared and supported by both faculty and classmates alike. I will always remember this. To know your school supports your achievements is a wonderful feeling."

David Gosine from Canadian
Founder at Authentic Production
BSB Class of 2017

David Gosine, Authentic Production

Meet our Alumni

Nicolas LAINE
Nicolas Laine
Managing Director
Dr Wine
BSB class of 2013
Icy LIU BSB
Icy Liu
Becky Wasserman & Co and Chanterêves
BSB class of 2018
Willem COETZEE BSB
Willem Coetzee
International Sales Manager Backsberg Estate Cellars
BSB class of 2017
Miranda McCage
Miranda McCage
Luxury Portfolio Consultant Elevage Collection
E. & J. Gallo Winery
BSB class of 2020
Alumni Testimonial BSB

"I had to keep evolving as a professional..."

A Peruvian native, learn about Bruno's background in the alcoholic beverage industry, what drew him to this programme and how much he enjoyed being in Dijon and making memories with our faculty and his classmates.

Bruno Ferrari Diaz

MBA Wine & Spirits Business, BSB Class of 2020

Bruno Ferrari Diaz, MBA Wine & Spirits Business
Graduated in 2020

A Peruvian native, learn about Bruno's background in the alcoholic beverage industry, what drew him to this programme and how much he enjoyed being in Dijon and making memories with our faculty and his classmates.

"I had to keep evolving as a professional..."

Jacylyn Stokes, MBA Wine & Spirits Business
Graduated in 2020

As an American, Jacylyn was keen to learn about traditional winemaking methods and French culture, so BSB was a natural choice for her. Watch our short interview to hear more about how much she valued the small class size and exposure to those with shared ambition and passion, but different backgrounds, cultures and perspectives.

"I felt really honoured to be a part of such a smart and talented group of people..."

BSB Career Booster


As a BSB student, you will receive expert career services equipping you with tools and confidence you'll need to achieve the best professional positions.

Our Career Booster Department offers you:

  • 7 coaches providing help in French, English, Spanish and German.
  • Over 3000 hours of personalised coaching during your studies including an in-depth career assessment.
  • Over 9000 internships and job opportunities available each year.

Your global BSB alumni network

17,000+

BSB graduates in over 90 countries around the world

93%

of our graduates find a job in less than six months.

€41,000

Average gross annual salary after graduation from a French business school.

€48,000

Average gross annual salary after graduation from this BSB programme.

Tailor-made guidance for each student

At BSB, we offer the coaching and support you need to help you excel during your time with us
and find your purpose to fulfil your role in society, in your community and in a company or organisation.

Academic Support

Language Support

Health
Services

Housing
Support

Talk to our current students
Learn all about BSB in just one day
Saturday 13 March 2021

Join our Virtual Open Day and get to know BSB's staff, professors, campus, and more. With on-demand seminars and live interactive sessions, you'll be able to ask any question you might have about our programmes, admissions process, student services and living in France.

We can't wait to meet you!

Meet our team
  • Patrick Harris
    Manager, International Recruitment
    International Recruitment Team - Isabelle
    Isabelle Gajac
    Project Manager, International Development
    International Recruitment Team Perishte
    Perishte Dastanova
    Manager, International Recruitment
  • Jade Qi
    Area Manager, China
    Yolande Codo
    Area Manager, Africa
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