International Master on Wine Tourism Transitions and Innovations - Wintour

Just over one month ago, WINTOUR 9.0 reunited in Porto for the final few days of this incredible experience. They successfully defended their theses, enjoyed one more wine tasting together, and got ready for a final night of celebration and revelry after two years of learning and living together.

Graduation was full of family and friends, smiles and laughter, more than a few tears (both happy and sad); the pride and joy of all their accomplishments, and the sobering realization that this experience has come to an end. Alongside the wonderful conversations, the music and dancing, there were lots of tearful goodbyes. To say it was bittersweet would be an understatement.

How special it is that this incredible group of students––brought together by their passion for wine––now has friendships that span the globe. WINTOUR 9.0, you will do great things. Keep cheering for each other and supporting one another, wherever you go. 🥂❤️

Introducing Madeline 🌟

Joining us from Wisconsin, USA 🇺🇸 Madeline joined WINTOUR after a few professional pivots––from marketing, to education, and then to wine retail . . . which naturally led her to want to explore the world of wine even further. WINTOUR presented the perfect opportunity to pursue many of the things she loves: culture, travel, wine. 🍷

After falling in love with Bordeaux in the second semester, Madeline extended her time there by completing her first internship leading cycling tours through the vineyards with Rustic Vines. 🚲 She spent the 2025 harvest making wine in Mallorca with Bodega Ribas, and returned to Spain for her final internship with the DO of La Palma, in the Canary Islands. During her time on La Palma, Madeline got a firsthand look at how a Denomination of Origin is managed, and also witnessed this small island's incredible winemaking history and heritage. 🍇

For Madeline, WINTOUR was an incredible opportunity to delve deep into wine culture in several unique locations. Throughout the program she's seen how tourism can be a tool for the preservation and valorisation of wine heritage, and she's eager to explore this further in the future. For now, she's eagerly awaiting sharing another bottle with her WINTOUR 9 colleagues––the people who made this experience truly magical. 🥂

Introducing Juan 🌟
From Bogotá, Colombia 🇨🇴 Juan joined WINTOUR after years of working in marketing and social media. Before this journey, in a more corporate life, he always felt something was missing. One might call it a "midlife crisis," but Juan prefers to see it as a rebirth: a decision to return to studying, to explore the world, and to reconnect with what truly inspires him. 🍷

Through WINTOUR, Juan had the opportunity to study and live in three different locations, and expanded even further to new destinations through his internships. Beginning with Avignonesi Winery in Montepulciano, Italy, Juan learned the ins and outs of life in the Italian countryside, before spending his final semester in the heart of La Rioja at Arizcuren Urban Winery in Logroño, Spain.

Reflecting on his WINTOUR experience, Juan says it's been unreal, truly opening his mind to the world––and the world of wine. 🌎 "Walking through vineyards, wine cathedrals, museums, wine cities, and so much more has felt like a dream come true. Along the way, I’ve discovered great bottles, but even more importantly, I’ve met incredible people to share them with." 🥂❤️

Introducing Sretenka 🌟

Joining us from Serbia 🇷🇸 Sretenka brings a strong background in tourism studies to WINTOUR. Having grown up in a small, emerging wine region in Serbia––one still finding its place on the global wine map––sparked her interest in how tourism can give visibility and new opportunities to rural communities.

Sretenka spent her first WINTOUR internship on the beautiful island of Mallorca with Bodegas Can Vidalet, before heading to Attica, Greece last fall where she spent the harvest at Papagiannakos Winery. 🍇 After falling in love with Porto last fall, she decided to stay for her final internship, working with the Fladgate Partnership and their projects in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.

Seeing what wine tourism can do for places like her hometown in Serbia, as well as other emerging wine regions of the world, is what inspired the path she's on today: exploring the transformative power of wine tourism. 🥂

Introducing Letizia 🌟

After growing up in her family's vineyards in Piemonte, Italy 🇮🇹 and studying oenology and communications, Letizia joined the WINTOUR master with the aspiration of carrying on her family's business and winemaking tradition. 🍷

Throughout her time in WINTOUR, Letizia interned at Weingut Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan in Pfalz,Germany, and spent the 2025 harvest in the cellars of Champagne André Heucq in France––before lending a hand at home for a few days while anticipating the start of the Porto semester last fall. She spent her final internship with Armit Wines in London, expanding her knowledge about the business and distribution sides of the wine industry.

With her love for food, travel, and good parties, Letizia hopes to continue exploring the world one glass at a time with her family's wines by her side, as she continues the legacy. 🌏🥂

Introducing Endre 🌟

Joining us from the beautiful volcanic hills of the Badascony region in Hungary 🇭🇺 Endy grew up in his family's vineyards alongside his sisters and their many pets, learning the ins and outs of viticulture and winemaking from an early age. With an avid interest in history and storytelling, plus his experience in the family wine business, he went on to study Viticulture and Oenology in Budapest, and eventually found his way to WINTOUR to expand his wine knowledge even further. 🍷

Endre headed back home to Hungary for his first internships, working with winetourism.com in Budapest and then Glvesy Winery in Szent György-hegy. 🍇 He finished WINTOUR working in London with WineCo, helping to organize The Ultimate CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) Wine Fair. In his spare time, Endre likes to play D&D with friends, and teaches university sommelier courses (on how NOT to be a wine snob), where he (somewhat controversially) encourages everyone to incorporate a Guinness chaser into their wine tastings. 🍺

Introducing Lea 🌟
From Haan, Germany 🇩🇪 Lea joined WINTOUR 9.0 with a unique interest in languages and wine. Her background in Roman Languages and Anthropology, combined with her experience working in the wine sector, helped her to realize that she wanted to continue growing her passion for wine. 🍷 Whether sharing a bottle with friends, hosting wine tastings, studying with other wine aficionados, or working as a sommelière. . . Lea knew that WINTOUR would equip her to continue integrating wine in her life in many meaningful ways.

After spending her wine tourism internship with Perrier Jouët in Champagne 🍾 Lea headed back to Germany, spending the 2025 harvest 🍇 at Weingut Andres in Deidesheim. She finished her final WINTOUR semester living out her horseranch dreams at Vivacs del Plata, an incredible family-owned farmstay in the picturesque Valle del Uco near Mendoza, Argentina. 🇦🇷 Clearly Lea's passion for wine will continue to propel her toward amazing experiences across the globe, as she shares her wine knowledge and discovers new places––one wine bar at a time. 🥂

Introducing Cecilia 🌟
Joining WINTOUR from Mendoza, Argentina 🇦🇷 Cecilia brings a background in International Relations. After living and working in one of the world's most incredible wine regions, Cecilia decided to delve more deeply into the world of wine tourism and joined WINTOUR! 🍷

Cecilia spent her first WINTOUR internship in Saint-Émilion, France 🇫🇷 at Château Jean Faure before joining the team at Seymanns Weinhandwerkerei in Austria 🇦🇹during the harvest last fall. And now, she's just wrapped up her final WINTOUR internship in Montepulciano, Italy, where she's spent the last several months working for the Strada del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano e dei Sapori della Valdichiana Senese. 🇮🇹

Passionate about traveling, Cecilia says she's even more interested in discovering the soul of each place — its culture, traditions, and language. She is especially inspired by the way wine becomes part of a region’s identity, telling stories of its people, history, and landscape. With this curiosity, Cecilia is sure to be inspired wherever she goes in the future! 🥂

Introducing Daniel 🌟
A self-proclaimed "pop-culture obsessive fascinated by the cultural side of wine," Daniel is one of the first students to join WINTOUR from Colombia! 🇨🇴 Daniel started his career in marketing before deciding to shift paths and explore something more meaningful to him: wine. 🍷

Daniel spent last summer (his first two WINTOUR internships) at Avignonesi in Montepulciano, Italy, moving between hospitality and cellar work. 🍇 From premium visitor experiences to working hands-on with low-intervention amphora wines, the experience gave him a full perspective on winemaking. Life in a Tuscan villa, with two donkeys he still misses, Ernesto and Regina, and a daily glass of Sangiovese, made it all the more memorable. For his final WINTOUR semester, Daniel is currently part of the communications team at VINSEUM, Museum of the wine cultures of Catalunya in Vilafranca del Penedès. 🏛️ His role spans digital marketing, audience development, and contributing to the museum’s future tourism strategy.

Through the WINTOUR Master, Daniel combines his background in marketing with a growing expertise in wine and culture. He looks forward to designing experiences that expand wine and cultural spaces to more inclusive and diverse audiences. ✨

Introducing Cristina 🌟
From Yucatán, México 🇲🇽 Cristina joined WINTOUR with a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism: a double diploma from the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, México and the Université d’Angers, France. It was during her time in Angers, located in the Pays de la Loire wine region, that Cristina had her first meaningful exposure to the wine world. After this first interaction, the curiosity stayed with her and eventually led her to discover the WINTOUR program. 🍷

Cristina spent her first two WINTOUR internships––wine tourism and then harvest/winemaking––with Vins i Olis Suñer in Catalunya, Spain. 🇪🇸 For her final internship this semester she extended her time in Porto and has been working with The Wine Experience at the World of Wine. Her academic background strongly rooted in social sciences has shaped the way Cristina analyzes and questions the connections between people, culture, and different industries––including the wine world. 🌎

Traveling, discovering new places, trying different gastronomies and engaging with diverse traditions are just some of Cristina's favorite things. She also has a strong curiosity for languages and the way they shape communication and connection. Cristina sees wine as a complex but fundamentally cultural world meant to be approached with curiosity rather than intimidation. She believes the wine industry has an important role to play in making people feel more confident about discovering and enjoying wine, even without being experts. 🥂