FROM GRAPES TO WRATH

The History, Geography, and International Business of Wine
in the Age of Climate Change

Vineyard photoDo you want to break into the global wine industry? 

The modern wine industry is rapidly evolving to adapt to global needs and changes due to COVID-19, climate change, direct to consumer sales, and other pressing global factors. There are opportunities for Business and Communications talent in this traditional global industry to adapt in creative ways to address new market demands. This class will teach you everything you need to know to understand and explore a variety of current and emerging careers in wine. 

Join us for this Fall 2020 remote course
Meeting virtually on Thursdays from 6:00pm – 8:50pm
August 20 - December 10

Course objectives:

  • Apply cross-cultural communication concepts in a $340 billion industry.
  • Understand how countries use strategic communication to promote wine regions and brands.
  • Take an interdisciplinary approach to the study of wine culture.
  • Apply theoretical and methodological tools from aesthetic philosophy, communication, history, geography, and cultural studies to address issues of sustainability, climate change, and the identification and preservation of cultural world heritage.
  • Develop critical thinking skills while engaging with abstract concepts, new methods, and approaches in codifying the language of wine, such as the exploration of neuroenology, flavor chemistry, and neuroaesthetics.
  • Examine the various systems of governance and standardization common to the wine industry while exposing potential flaws in these systems as vignerons, scientists, and governments address the current and future trends relating to climate change.

Please Note – This academic course does not include any wine tasting.

Instructor

Simone FM Spinner earned her master of humanities exploring the aesthetics of wine at the University of Colorado, Denver. She also created and earned the first degree in the study and business of wine for Metropolitan State University of Denver. She holds sommelier credentials from Wine & Spirits Education Trust, Court of Master Sommeliers, Spanish Wine Academy and the Society of Wine Educators. Simone is pursuing her PhD, studying the effects of climate change on global wine culture and the wine industry from Lisbon Consortium. Simone owns Wine Rocks & Chasing Grapes, LLC., focused on wine-related consulting, writing, education, seminars, and wine events. Her students and apprentices have gone on to represent internationally renowned, multiple award-winning wine lists, collections, top restaurants, international importers and distributors, vendors, entertainment complexes, and clients across the globe. They have worked for world-famous musicians, sports figures, master chefs, celebrities, and wine personalities on four continents. A few have become wine educators, writers, wine influencers, and even award-winning winemakers. 

Academic Credit Enrollment

CU Denver students who are already enrolled in an undergraduate program can enroll in this 3 credit crosslisted course by following the below steps:

  • Logon to your student portal
  • Search for INTS 4700 or COMM 4710
  • If you use the advanced search, be sure to select Extended Studies as the Campus
  • Add the course to your cart and enroll!

New students who would like to enroll for credit can apply to the university as nondegree seeking students. 

The tuition rate for this course will follow the standard campus rate of $370/chr or $1110 for the 3 credit course. 

Noncredit Enrollment

Students who do not need academic credit may also sign up for the noncredit version of the course for a lower tuition rate. New students will need to apply to the university as continuing and professional education (CPE) students. Click here to view instructions for applying to CU Denver as a CPE student and enrolling for CEUs. Once admitted, the course to enroll in is:

  • NCCL 1 - 501 - Non-Credit CLAS Experience: All You Need to Know About Wine (Class Number 40453)

The noncredit tuition rate for this course is $650 and students can earn up to 3 continuing education units (CEUs). 

Contact

This course is presented by CLAS Department of Communication, CLAS Department of International Studies, and CLAS Continuing and Professional Education.

For more information regarding the course content, contact the instructor, Simone FM Spinner at simone.spinner@ucdenver.edu

For more information regarding enrollment, contact Program Manager, Kristen Kang Salsbury at kristen.salsbury@ucdenver.edu