We talked to María José García Esparza, professor at ETSEAMN and director of the Master’s Degree in Oenology (MUENO).
- Good morning, first of all we would like to get to know you better so we ask you to introduce yourself to your colleagues, who is Mª José García Esparza?
My first steps at the UPV were as a student to study for the“Master’s Degree in Oenology”. which at that time was a Título Propio. At the same time I had the opportunity to start my doctorate in the Department of “Biology”.Food Technology”.which I did with an FPI grant.
I hold a PhD in Biological Sciences from the UPV, I am a professor in the Department of Food Technology and researcher in the“Institute of Food Engineering”for development. My academic, teaching and research activity has been developed at the Universitat Politècnica de València in the area of “Enological Technology”, mainly.
- As director of the Master’s Degree in Oenology, can you explain what it consists of?
The Master’s Degree in Oenology (MUENO) is going toaimed at training wine production and winemaking professionals, technicians and managers of wine companies and future researchers and specialists.in winemaking technology and innovation.
The master’s degree is divided into three main thematic blocks: viticulture, oenology and wine economy.
The master’s degree is divided into three main thematic blocks: viticulture, oenology and wine economy.
In viticulture, the sustainable techniques applied to vine cultivation are analyzed; in oenology, the best traditional and innovative technological practices for winemaking and aging in the wine industry are applied; and in economics, the key factors of the wine business are determined.
The teaching methodology combines the theoretical and practical dimensions, with 50% of the total credits being internships.
- What aspects would you highlight of the Master’s Degree in Oenology?
It is a complete master’s degree in whichviticultural techniques applied to the cultivation of grapevines are discussed. and environmentally friendly, theprocess control and aging processes in the wine industry, and the ccknowledge of economics and marketingthat make the economic viability of the companies possible.
The Master in Oenology has an experimental winery at ETSIAMN where students learn to make their own wine.
These are the three pillars on which the strength of the wine sector is based and which justify the distribution of the courses taught in the Master’s Degree in Oenology.
TheThe Master in Oenology has an experimental winery at ETSIAMN where students learn to make their own wine.The quality of our products is of the highest possible quality, which represents a great challenge for them.
It is also mandatory to do an internship in a commercial winery (minimum of two months, usually September and October, equivalent to 6 credits) to have a practical and real vision of the knowledge acquired in the theoretical classes.
This Master’s Degree has the advantage of being able to be taken as a double Master’s Degree with the Master’s Degree in Agronomic Engineering.
On the other hand,This Master’s Degree has the advantage of being able to be taken as a double Master’s Degree with the Master’s Degree in Agronomic Engineering.. The double degree allows the acquisition of the competencies of both master’s degrees through an integrated academic path.
All of this at a lower time and economic cost than the cost of obtaining both master’s degrees individually.
- What impact does it have on the scientific field?
Students acquire advanced training that allows them to initiate research tasks, as they learn about the latest developments and trends in the wine sector, with an interdisciplinary vision.
You can visitto develop R&D&I activities in the wine industry and in any of the professional activities of this sector, having acquired advanced and updated knowledge in these subjects.
- What about the students’ labor market insertion?
Spain is the third largest wine producing country in the world and we are world leaders in vineyard surface area, we are the number one country in wine exports in volume, and the third in exports in terms of value, in euros.
All students do paid internships in companies in the sector, which often allows them to be hired by the wineries.. Our relationship with the wineries is very good and we know that our graduates are highly valued. Many of them are working in wineries of different D.O. of the Valencian Community and the rest of Spain.
Oenology is a fascinating professional activity that offers a wide variety of career opportunities.
Winemaking is a fascinating professional activity that provides a wide variety of career opportunities. Winemakers can work in wineries in winemaking, in the field controlling the vineyard, in marketing agencies and in analysis laboratories. They can also work as independent consultants or even open their own winery.Oenology is a very versatile field that offers many opportunities for those interested in wine..
- Is it possible to develop a research career after completing these studies?
The Master’s Degree in Oenology allows access to doctoral programs in order to develop a research activity.
The Master has two orientationsa professional orientationThis program provides continuity to the undergraduate studies related to the food industry, to train technical specialists in the productive activities characteristic of the wine industry. And aacademic orientationThis program, which gives access to doctoral studies, provides training in research skills in the field of viticulture, oenology and wine economics.
- Moving on to a more personal and relaxed side, what slogan or phrase would you say?is it an inspiration for you?
“Life is a journey and he who travels lives twice.” (Omar Khayyam)
- Will Elon Musk kill Twitter or will the opposite happen?
I believe that Twitter’s situation will be redirected, but it will cease to be just a social network and will have other utilities.
- If Twitter disappears, will you switch to Mastodon?
The truth is that I am not a Twitter user, nor a user of social networks in general.
- Pizza, with or without pineapple?
No pineapple. I like pineapple, but not on pizza.
- In winter, socks to sleep in?
No, socks bother me when I sleep, if I am cold I prefer a blanket or a quilt.
- Vacations, sea or mountain?
Both of them. I like I love to travel and appreciate the sea and the mountains.both have a lot to offer.
- Finally, coffee, black or with milk?
Coffeealone and without sugar.