Advanced Wine and Beverage Business Management Program (Postgraduate) (H414)

George Brown College

FULL DESCRIPTION

Advanced Wine and Beverage Business Management is a one-year, three-semester postgraduate program developed for hospitality diploma and degree graduates, and industry professionals seeking an advanced level of learning focused on all aspects of the wine, spirit and beer business.

In our state-of-the-art tasting labs, students will explore and experience global beverages and their relationship to business, cuisine, culture and lifestyle.

This program will provide you with an advanced level of knowledge in beer, wine, spirits and mixology, and also teach you essential business skills such as financial management, organizational behaviour and strategic marketing – all vital to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace.

Successful graduates will earn three additional certifications: Wine & Spirit Education Trust® (WSET®) Levels 2 and Prud’homme Beer Certification® Levels 1 & 2.

These certifications are built into the program curriculum, allowing students to earn additional credentials as well as their Ontario College Graduate Certificate.

Our curriculum prepares you to be industry-ready for the most demanding beverage positions with product knowledge, experiential learning and business acumen.

Your Field Education Options

This program provides a mandatory 14-week externship placement. George Brown works with employers and industry partners to identify potential work experience opportunities. Students are also strongly encouraged to pursue self-directed work experience opportunities, which they believe will provide the learning experiences they value and meet the learning outcomes of the program. This valuable work experience can be added to your resumé.

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Manage different departments within food & beverage centred or sales environment using product knowledge, menu development and business acumen skills.
• Position products appropriately in the market using established techniques in wine merchandising, product pricing, labelling, branding, advertising, promotions, marketing, public relations, media relations consumer behaviour in the wine industry.
• Interpret import and export regulations and recognize opportunities and challenges within the business structures of the wine industry.
• Manage and control different aspects of wine-related enterprises to make effective decisions regarding finance, accounting, budget planning, costing, taxation systems, pricing structures in the wine industry, using analytical and synthesis skills.
• Implement and develop leadership and human resources skills required in the beverage business that include recruitment, motivational strategies, resolution of labour relations issues and the management of related challenges and responsibilities including culturally sensitive material.
• Use current and relevant business strategies to facilitate a sustainable hospitality entity.

Your Career

This program will provide you with advanced professional knowledge of beverages matched with essential business, management and communication skills that prepare you for an abundance of exciting opportunities in Toronto and across the globe.

Depending on experience and areas of interest, graduates can pursue rewarding hospitality careers as:

• Beverage directors
• Sales agents
• Territory managers
• Product consultants
• Brand ambassadors
• Wine stewards/cellar masters
• Wine country tour guides
• Specialty retail operations
• Portfolio managers
• Merchandising/inventory coordinators