Château Gruaud Larose, a classified grand cru, is sponsoring the training of Chinese students who will become experts in wine tourism.
Château Gruaud Larose, a classified grand cru, is sponsoring the training of Chinese students who will become experts in wine tourism.
“We all have an interest in wine tourism. We don’t really know the world of wine. In my country, China, there is a real need to get to know each other better. ” Lilijuan studies at EPCC, a private school in Libourne specializing in commerce and accounting. It has been welcoming Chinese students in marketing and business strategy for several years.
Anchored in a region where wine-growing is flourishing, the EPCC has developed wine tourism training for its “apprentices” in the Middle Empire.
From the vineyard to the winery
For two years, they were able to enroll in a degree in wine tourism management. The first promotion, launched in 2010, was sponsored by Château Sainte-Barbe in Ambès. The class of 2011 is accompanied by Château Gruaud Larose, runner-up in growth. On Friday, October 7, in the vineyards of the prestigious Saint-Julien appellation in the Médoc, around sixty of these students came to see the estate. From the vineyard to the cellar, without forgetting the traditional tasting, they were able to discover what they will later have to share with their fellow citizens.
Ambassadors
In the middle of the vineyard, Jean Merlaut, the château’s owner, reveals some of his philosophy to his guests. “You can’t say everything with words. Wine is also about sharing. And wine tourism, the opportunity to convey something in another language. ” The small group of Chinese, who have already attended a training course in French, agree.
Surrounded by another group of students, Maisa Mansion, a sommelier and master in tourism, educates her interlocutors about the history of the estate and its terroir. The young Brazilian was hired by Château Gruaud Larose in October 2009 to develop the wine tourism policy decided by Jean Merlaut. The Chinese listen attentively to the South American’s beautiful and impeccable presentation. Tomorrow, in other châteaux, they will have to do so with the same concern for quality.
Sipping a good glass of Gruaud Larose, Lionel Mayot, educational manager of this EPCC wine tourism training course, points out that a third of his students want to stay in France and that two thirds of them want to trade between China, France and Europe. According to him, the integration of his students into the “local” culture is going very well.
