The idea came up one day in 1978. All the ingredients were present. A beautiful castle, classified Historical building, in the heart of the vineyards of the Cotes du Rhône, and professionals who had a science, and a passion to pass on but also lots of things they have to learn themselves. Because wine men know it well: all those, who believe they know everything, in fact know nothing at all and everything remains to be learned. Wine is, above all, a school of modesty.

Since then, the University of Wine has considerably developed. More than two hundred students and two thousand people, in permanent training, come there every year and they have an extraordinary working tool.

A Documentation Centre with a large library and files available, directly on the Internet site, a specialized bookshop, a Congress Centre, seminars and receptions, an Oeno-agronomic Development and Research centre, which considers the quality of all the wines of the world, the Vine Garden, located at the foot of the castle which cultivates the seventy main types of vines of the great wine countries. And finally, a Certified Tasting Centre where the examinations and obligatory controls are held before a wine can get the famous AOC label (Appellation d’Origine Controllèe). The tasting amphitheatre comprises thirty-six evaluation stations.

The University of Wine delivers diplomas, in partnership with other universities, and also ensures a permanent formation for professionals with training courses of short duration. But also training courses during the weekend, for the very many amateur oenophiles, who come there for pleasure while learning, in Suze la Rousse, the art of tasting.