Wine tourism specialist, sommelier
Registration numbers: FF/1559-3/2014, FF/1559-4/2014
Be among the first to earn a Wine Tourism Specialist and Sommelier diploma by learning
from the country’s top practitioners!
In a program unique in Hungary, participants will taste more than 100 wines and champagnes during the course, gaining insight into wines from other countries and continents. Upon completion, graduates will emerge as professional wine tasters equipped with managerial skills.
Name of the professional qualification obtainable through specialized continuing education: Wine Tourism Specialist, Sommelier
Duration of the program
- 2 semesters, 60 credits
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to work as sommeliers in family-owned wineries, restaurants, or wine bars to curate food pairings for wines, identify and pair products from other terroirs with wines from a specific terroir, independently describe and evaluate individual wines, recognize wine faults and diseases, and position Hungarian wines in relation to those of other countries, highlighting the strengths of Hungarian wines.
They will be able to organize wine tastings and wine dinners, put together a selection of wine-related programs, and prepare a budget and itinerary for the event. They will be qualified to manage a small family-run or business enterprise found in a specific wine region, to develop and implement a business plan, and to identify and manage risk factors that arise both prior to operations and during management.
Key Subjects and Areas of Knowledge
- Foundational knowledge: basics of tourism, regional management
- Core professional curriculum: Hungarian grape and wine varieties, sparkling wine, Tokaji wine; international trends: wines from France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Germany, and the New World; food and wine pairing, menu design; Hungarian wine regions, the concept of terroir; wine marketing; sommelier knowledge; tasting techniques; business management
- Elective topics: white, red, and rosé wines; wine faults and diseases
Proportion of practical training: 58%–42%
DETAILED TRAINING AND OUTCOME REQUIREMENTS
When are the consultations?
In the correspondence course, consultations are held on Saturdays, totaling 90 class hours per semester.
Admission Requirements
A bachelor’s degree in any field of study
Additional Information
We also welcome applications from those who meet the requirements listed in the “Admission Requirements” section, have successfully passed the final exam in one of the majors listed there, are in the process of receiving their degree, and can provide proof of this.
Inquiries
Faculty of Economics
Email: gtk@kodolanyi.hu
INFORMATION ON THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND PROCEDURES
Location of the program: Budapest
Program start date: September 2026
Application deadline: August 31 for programs starting in the first semester of the 2026–27 academic year
Scheduled first day of classes: September 26,
2026
How to Apply
Via the online application form available on the website.
Required documents
- Copy of diploma
- Proof of payment of the registration fee.
Minimum number of participants: 10
Course fee
350,000 HUF per semester, of which the registration fee payable upon application is 35,000 HUF
Information for transferring the registration fee (tuition deposit)
- Beneficiary: Kodolányi János University
- Account number: Erste Bank 11600006-00000000-33437190
- Amount: 35,000 HUF
Please enter your name in the “Remarks” field.
ONLINE APPLICATION