WINE MANAGEMENT: MIB TRIESTE CONTRIBUTES TO DEFINING THE NEW PROFESSIONAL STANDARD

The Italian wine sector now has a new benchmark for recognizing managerial skills. DNV , one of the world's leading certification bodies, has developed the first framework dedicated to the role of Wine Business Manager . MIB Trieste School of Management contributed its scientific and methodological expertise to defining the standard and its requirements.

The new certification is a concrete response to a structural transformation of the wine market. Competing on international markets requires a wealth of knowledge that goes beyond product and winemaking expertise. Export, marketing, pricing, economic and financial management, supply chain, risk management, sustainability, and the ability to understand supply chain dynamics are now integral to the work of those leading the development of a winery. It is precisely on this evolution of the managerial role that MIB Trieste has built its expertise in specialized training for the sector over the past twenty years.

" The creation of a certification dedicated to Wine Business Managers represents an important step towards the professionalization of the sector ," says Pierpaolo Penco, Head of the Wine Business Area at MIB Trieste School of Management . " For the first time, the managerial skills required to operate in the wine industry are brought together in a standard defined and verifiable by an independent body. Our contribution to the development of the DNV standard stems from the belief that the future of Italian wine also depends on the ability to recognize, develop, and enhance managerial skills suited to the complexity of contemporary markets ."

The new profile marks the transition from product to business. The Wine Business Manager is called upon to connect the various components of the supply chain, transforming product quality and the identity of the territory into sustainable economic value. It's not about certifying winemaking or tasting skills, but rather about recognizing professionals capable of managing all aspects of the business with an integrated managerial vision, from strategic decisions to performance monitoring .

This is a change that MIB Trieste observes firsthand through its courses. Wineries today operate in a context where wine quality is a necessary but no longer sufficient condition for competitiveness. What makes the difference is the ability to interpret markets, identify opportunities, manage resources and people, define commercial strategies, and create value for the consumer.

DNV certification takes this evolution a step further , from declared skills to those assessed and formally recognized. In an increasingly competitive and international market, it offers wine professionals a differentiating tool already consolidated in other fields: independent validation of skills, which increases perceived reliability , makes the profile more immediately legible, and strengthens its value in the eyes of companies and stakeholders.

To access it, the standard requires a degree, specific training, and at least five years of proven experience in the field. The assessment includes a document analysis, two written tests—one of which focuses on solving a real-world case study—and an oral interview. The certificate is valid for five years and is subject to mandatory continuing education.

Precisely because training is a prerequisite for certification, the Executive Course in Wine Business Management at MIB Trieste School of Management , whose 14th edition will begin on November 26, 2026 , is particularly relevant in this scenario. The program aims to develop a comprehensive vision of the wine business through skills in strategy, marketing and sales, winery management, internationalization, and market analysis . The approach combines theoretical framework, practical application, and discussion with industry professionals and companies. For this reason, the program is consistent with the skills set by the new DNV standard and can help meet the targeted training requirement for admission, subject to meeting the other conditions established by the scheme.

" Certification doesn't replace training, but rather enhances its role," Penco emphasizes. "The market needs professionals who aren't just specialists in a single function, but who understand wine as a complex economic system. This is exactly the direction in which we developed our program: to provide participants with the tools to understand the market, develop strategies, make decisions, and connect the various business functions ."

It's a long-standing commitment. In 2003, MIB Trieste was the first Italian business school to continuously invest in the training of wine managers. Year after year, the course has fostered a community of professionals now working in family-run wineries, international groups, distribution, consulting, and other businesses in the supply chain.

The creation of the DNV professional standard is therefore part of a process that MIB Trieste has been pursuing for some time: supporting the transformation of the sector through the development of managerial skills capable of combining product culture, market knowledge and management skills .

For information on the Wine Business Management Course :
MIB Trieste School of Management
Largo Caduti di Nassiriya 1, Trieste – communication@mib.edu

For information on DNV certification :
https://www.dnv.it/services/wine-business-manager/