About us

On the initiative of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate , Germany's first dual study program Viticulture and Enology was founded at the Wine Campus Neustadt in 2009 . The reason for setting up such a course of study was the increasing demand from the wine industry for practically and theoretically well-trained managers.

The cooperation between three universities and the Rural Area Service Center (DLR) Rhenish Palatinate opens up an exciting range of opportunities for the Viticulture and Enology course. The expertise of three universities coupled with the industry knowledge and infrastructure of the Rural Area Service Center (DLR) Rhenish Palatinate allows for a smooth transfer of knowledge from the university to practice and vice versa. The Wine Campus Neustadt's cooperation with over 600 wineries worldwide is one of the key strengths of the dual study program.

6 reasons that make the Wine Campus unique

Over 600 partner companies worldwide

The dual study program depends on its training companies. They are the backbone for a successful course of study. Without the practical training in the wineries, it would be impossible for students to complete two degrees in four years.

The Wine Campus Neustadt has a strong backbone with over 600 cooperating wineries. The many training partners not only ensure the dual character of the degree program, but also the diversity of content. From the growing conditions to the grape varieties to the products - more than in other sectors, diversity is a decisive parameter for success in viticulture.

Experimental winery with over 500 years of experience

The St. John State Winery, which has been used for viticulture since the eighth century, is located on the Wine Campus Neustadt site .

The teaching and experimental vineyards at Staatsweingut date back to the 16th century, to the time of Johann Casimir, Count Palatine of the Rhine and administrator of the Electoral Palatinate. Johann Casimir issued his own planting decree for his favorite variety "Gänsfüßer" as early as 1584.

Location advantage

Wine Campus Neustadt is located in the center of German winegrowing. Neustadt is the second largest winegrowing community in Germany. Viticulture plays a prominent role here. In total, Rhineland-Palatinate is home to 2/3 of Germany's vineyards. Neustadt thus qualifies as a unique location for combining practice and research.

The Wine Campus is also located in the middle of vineyards. Here you have direct contact with viticulture and practice. Out of the lecture hall and into the vineyard - without having to travel far.

Academic joint venture between three universities

The Wine Campus Neustadt is a joint scientific institution of the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society, the Bingen Technical University of Applied Sciences and the Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences. The partners cover the entire value chain from vine breeding and the grape to the wine and from the winery to the consumer.

Practical relevance through the service centers for rural areas

The cooperation with the Rural Area Service Center (DLR) Rhenish Palatinate and the close collaboration with the Rural Area Service Center (DLR) RNH and the Rural Area Service Center (DLR) Moselle enable maximum practical and application relevance. Studies, teaching, research and Further education come from a single source and are geared towards practice.

Sustainability in viticulture

The future viability and sustainability of wine production along the entire value chain are the focus of our research. We have therefore set ourselves sustainable research goals in a joint strategy plan with the Rural Area Service Center (DLR) Rhenish Palatinate. This means that all research projects must pursue at least one of the following five strategic objectives:

Adaptation to climate change
Sustainable environmental protection
Resource-efficient and gentle processes
Technology transfer and Digitalization
Competitiveness of regional and sustainable products

Graphic about the combination of research and teaching at the Wine Campus Neustadt

How is the Wine Campus structured...

Organization

The Wine Campus Neustadt is a joint scientific institution of the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society, the Bingen Technical University of Applied Sciences and the Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with the Rural Area Service Center (DLR) Rhenish Palatinate. The Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society at Ludwigshafen is in charge of the project.

At the Wine Campus Neustadt, professors from the universities teach and conduct research together with scientists from the Rural Area Service Center (DLR) Rhenish Palatinate. Over 600 cooperating companies worldwide are the practical partners for the dual training of students.

The Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture is responsible for the vocational training for winegrowers integrated into the degree program.

Teaching Administration

How did the Wine Campus come about...

History

The location can look back on a long wine-growing tradition. Among other things, the Wine Campus Neustadt site is home to the St. John State Winery, which has been used for viticulture since the eighth century.

In the teaching and experimental farm of the state winery , the experiments date back to the 16th century, to the time of the Elector Johann Casimir, who issued his own ordinance for planting his favorite variety "Gänsfüßer" as early as 1584.

In 1899, the "Städtische Wein- und Obstbauschule" was founded in Neustadt, which was nationalized in 1908 and renamed the "Königliche Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt für Wein- und Gartenbau".

In 1983, it became the Teaching and Research Institute for Agriculture, Viticulture and Horticulture of Rhineland-Palatinate. In 2003, it was renamed Rural Area Service Center (DLR) Rhenish Palatinate as part of the agricultural administration reform. Here, scientists conduct research in the fields of phytomedicine, viticulture, Enology and microbiology. Other research areas at the Rural Area Service Center (DLR) Rheinpfalz include horticulture and fruit and vegetable growing.

In 2009, the first dual study program in viticulture and Enology in Germany is founded in Neustadt. This course is run by the three universities Ludwigshafen, Bingen and Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with the Rural Area Service Center (DLR) Rhenish Palatinate.

In 2012, the scientific institution of the three universities was given its own name: Wine Campus Neustadt.

The part-time Master's degree course in Wine, Sustainability and Sales has been offered since the 2016/17 winter semester. In the 2020/2021 winter semester, the dual German-French Master's degree course in Viticulture & Enology was introduced in cooperation with the Université de Haute-Alsace.

Sponsors of the Wine Campus

Karl-Josef-Wagner-Foundation Wachenheim

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The Wine Campus Neustadt