Our program in viticulture and enology stands out by utilizing Israel's unique assemblage of environments, innovative agriculture and wine-making history, stressing both ancient and modern wine production techniques. With such diverse climate, soil and topography from north to south, the country is a heavenly microcosm for learning the art of cultivating vineyards and wine-production, an art that has put Israel high on the world wine map.

Over the past decade, Israel has experienced a striking growth in its wine industry and a surging local and international market for its excelling wines. The number of wine makers has increased from just a handful to hundreds of commercial and boutique wineries today, and is on the rise.

Wine and the Holy Land have been intertwined since Biblical times. There are dozens of references to wine in the Bible, showing its significance to Jewish and Christian cultures.  Hundreds of ancient winepresses dating thousands of years old are scattered across the land in fields, villages, cities and deep in the desert, proof of a prolific wine-making industry in Biblical times.

Today, the small country is patterned with vineyards, from the luscious mountainous area of the northern Golan Heights and Galilee, through the charmingly rural central, humid coastal area, to the delightful sight of green vineyards in the heart of the dry Negev Desert, where the wonderful Negev Wine Route boasts a spread of boutique, family-owned vineyards which thrive due to state of the art drip irrigation technology (>>>link)

Learning how to cultivate vines under such harsh conditions is a specialty and one of the unique highlights of the program; other leading wine-producing countries, such as France, the USA and Australia, are starting to face similar challenges due to rapid climate changes. Spanning four consecutive semesters, the program is comprised of scientific studies at its campus based in the central, thriving city of Rehovot, as well as practical hands-on learning at the renowned Sorek Winery facility and vineyards.

The curriculum covers a wide array of topics from the vine to the wine, and from artistic wine-making to modern commercial production, instilling you with the knowledge on how to make your next bottle of fine wine. These include:

The Vineyard: soil, water, fertilization, meteorology, grapevine anatomy and physiology, principles of grapevine growing with an emphasis on semi-arid zones and global warming, grapevine pests, weeds and diseases.

Wine Production: principles and application in the production of various wines, equipment for production and packing of wine and operation of a winery, micro-vinification, chemistry and stability of wine and wine microbiology.

Wine Analysis: biosynthesis of taste and odor factors, sensory evaluation of diff­erent wine types, from Israel and around the world.

The Wine-Making business: topics include economics, management and marketing in the wine industry.

And that's not all. The curriculum of the program includes a professional workshop in Italy or France, where students get to know and accompany international experts. Finally, on completion of the program, the students can intern at a commercial winery in Israel or overseas.

Whether your palette can tell the difference between earthy and nutty, or if you're still struggling to differentiate between dry and semi-dry, the international program can elevate you to the next level and jumpstart an exciting, worldwide career as part of the new generation of skilled wine professionals. Studies at The Hebrew University also give you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet with other vine and wine lovers from around the world to collaborate, experiment, work hard and enjoy what viticulture has to offer.

You will also get to know the wonderful landscapes of Israel, the marvelous areas for hiking or biking, the fascinating history and archeological wonders in the country, and the diverse art and cultural scene the country is famous for.

There is one more added value - the people. Throughout your studies you will meet pioneering and dedicated, idealistic and entrepreneurial people of the land who, to paraphrase Israel's first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, have done the unimaginable, and have truly made the desert bloom.

For more information on MSc in Viticulture and Enology in Israel, click here >>

For a country so small and diverse in its topography, from 400m below sea level to 2,000m above, challenged by scarce rainfalls, with half of its land covered by arid desert, Israel has had to recruit the best minds to survive, thrive, develop a sustainable economy, and turn agriculture solutions into a major export.

Ranked as one of the Top 3 Most Innovative Countries in the world by the World Economic Forum Global Competitive Index, Israel gives you, as a student, the opportunity to experience and participate in an exciting start-up culture and ecosystem.

Over the past 70 years, it has become one of the most dynamic and active hi-tech hotbeds in the world and has pioneered advanced farming techniques, as well as dozens of food-related developments, extending far beyond its borders. It is a major exporter of fresh produce and a world-leader in agricultural technologies, from drip irrigation to biological pest control, from precision agro-technologies to in-land water-preserving aquaculture.

The hub for the innovative "StartUp Nation" begins at the young country's higher education institutes which nurture the best creative minds. The goal: to discover new ways of applying cutting-edge technology to agriculture while protecting the environment. Ultimately, these will feed the world.

The Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment of the Hebrew University is taking on the challenge. One of the leading institutions of its kind, it is the only school in the country that offers academic degrees in agriculture. It also offers advanced international degrees in agriculture, specializing in plant sciences, nutrition sciences, animal sciences, environmental quality sciences, grape growing and wine making, and sustainable rural development. 

Based in the central city of Rehovot, the Faculty's International School of Agricultural Sciences is a key player in training scientists and professionals to meet challenges faced by the growing global AgriTech industry. It offers fascinating and practical academic programs, inspiring outstanding minds from around the world to carry out its vision of global nourishment: "…feeding future generations with modern, knowledge-based agriculture while preserving the environment."

Taught in English, the school offers one-year, non-thesis Master of Science degrees in the following fields:

MSc Agri in Field and Vegetable Crops

MSc Agri in Environmental Quality Sciences

MSc in Nutritional Sciences

MSc Agri in Animal Sciences

Each of these one-year programs is made up of three intensive semesters of academic courses taught by the best lecturers of the faculty and distinguished experts from the respected fields, professional tours, and a hands-on Research Exercise. After completing the first year, you could qualify for another year of an individualized MSc thesis program.  

Each of the tracks delves into the local challenges of Israel as an international microcosm dealing with a scarcity of natural resources and arable land. The broad, in-depth curriculum prepares you to address the challenges of global environmental issues and become a highly qualified professional, opening doors to PhD studies worldwide, and to key positions in government, NGOs, industry, advisory boards, hospitals and academia.

This unique international program combines two worlds: a top notch academic institution along with a fun, life-learning experience in Israel. The vibrant campus and student scene lets you mingle with a mixed bag of like-minded Israelis and students from around the world, and of course, get to know one of the most intriguing places on earth.

Israel has a fascinating, diverse culture, from art to food, music to science, and boasts more than 4,000 years of history throughout its beautiful landscapes. Where else can you see the sun rise over a snowy mountain top surrounded by luscious green hills or over red mountains in the desert on the edge of a turquoise sea of coral reefs, and sun set over a tranquil Mediterranean, all in the same day?  Not to mention the chilled beaches, terrific nightlife, extreme sports, breathtaking biblical desert landscapes, and famous historical sites.

If you're the kind of person who thrives on intellectual challenge, looking for a meaningful, desirable profession, this authentic student adventure could be just what you've been waiting for.

Are you ready to jump on the AgriTech train?

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