The Strategic Partnership with Florida International University’s Vidal-Duart Wine Studies Program will Offer Students Immersive French Wine Education and Career-Advancing Opportunities
MIAMI, FL (October 23, 2024) – BGPL USA, the U.S. importer and marketer of the renowned French winehouses Barton & Guestier (B&G), Patriarche, and Listel, announced today an exclusive partnership with the Vidal-Duart Wine Studies Program at Florida International University’s (FIU) Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. Through this collaboration, BGPL USA becomes the school’s Exclusive French Wine Education Partner, integrating the B&G Food & Wine Academy at Château Magnol into FIU’s wine studies program.
“This partnership marks an exciting chapter for BGPL USA as we build meaningful relationships with the next generation of wine professionals,” said Carlos Varela, CEO of BGPL USA. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with FIU to deepen students’ appreciation and knowledge of French wines and help them become leaders in the global wine industry. Our Miami-based offices make this collaboration even more special, allowing us to work closely with a leading institution in hospitality education right in our community.”
The partnership offers FIU students a rich learning experience centered on French wine culture. BGPL USA products will be integrated into classroom instruction and masterclasses, with students participating in the ‘Wine Academy at FIU powered by BGPL.’ As part of the initiative, up to 12 students will travel annually to Château Magnol in Bordeaux, France for an immersive experience at the B&G Food & Wine Academy. Founded in 1989, the B&G Food & Wine Academy welcomes trade partners to experience the “French Art of Living” through hands-on training and workshops. BGPL USA will also offer paid internships at its Miami office, beginning in 2025, giving students practical experience in Sales, Marketing, and Operations.
“We are very excited to have BGPL join FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management family and our Vidal-Duart Wine studies program,” said Michael Cheng, dean of the Chaplin School. “This partnership, with the world’s leading provider of French wines, signifies another innovative step towards the education of our future hospitality leaders,” he added.
Further engagement includes BGPL USA’s integration into FIU’s activation at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival® in 2025, and the launch of exclusive trips for FIU alumni, donors, and wine collectors to Château Magnol in the fall of 2025. These initiatives underscore BGPL USA’s mission to combine education with hands-on experience and innovation preparing students for thriving careers in the wine industry.
FIU’s Chaplin School ranked as a top-six hospitality program (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024), launched the Vidal-Duart Wine Studies Program in December 2023 with support from alumni Tina Vidal-Duart BBA ‘02 MIB ‘04 and Carlos Duart BACC ‘94 MST ‘99. The program benefits students pursuing degrees in beverage and spirits management and fosters new industry partnerships that offer valuable experiential learning.
Barton & Guestier, a recent nominee for Wine Enthusiast’s 25th Annual Wine Star Award in the European Winery of the Year category, represents a legacy of centuries of winemaking excellence. With a comprehensive portfolio of French wines for the U.S. market, the company is committed to sustainability, heritage, and innovation. In 2025, Barton & Guestier will celebrate 300 years of winemaking history, a testament to its contribution to the U.S. wine market.
About BGPL USA:
The importer and marketer of Barton & Guestier, Patriarche, and Listel brands in the U.S., BGPL USA offers a comprehensive portfolio of French wines for the US market. Barton & Guestier is the oldest winehouse of Bordeaux, with three centuries of winemaking history and award-winning wines sourced from almost two hundred winegrowers in France. Based in Beaune, Patriarche is a Bourgogne winehouse specializing in the Charmat Method and Traditional Method sparkling wines as well as still AOC wines. Patriarche’s underground cellars, the largest in Europe, age 3 million bottles and welcome about 45,000 visitors each year. Listel is the maker of the best-selling rosé wine sold in France. Social Media: @barton.guestier, @veuveduvernay, @listelusaofficial; Website: www.bgpl-usa.com
About FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management:
Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management is a Top 6 hospitality school among U.S. Public Universities and ranked 31st in the world. Nearly 1,200 undergraduate and graduate students from across the nation and around the globe choose FIU for its outstanding reputation, advantageous campus locations in Miami, expert faculty, rich curriculum, and real career opportunities in the international hotel, food service, beverage, and spirits management, travel, tourism, revenue management, entertainment, and mega and large-scale event industries. As the leading diverse hospitality program with 70% women and students from 72 countries represented, Chaplin School graduates more undergraduate Black, Hispanic, and International students than any other school. For more information about Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, visit http://hospitality.fiu.edu.
