You can’t get more wine background than this: Anna’s mother, father and brothers all run their own wineries in Austria, Portugal and Germany. This is one of the reasons why Anna van der Niepoort actually wanted to do something else. “Actually,” laughs Anna. “But then I gave the industry one last chance. During an internship at a winery in South Africa, I also fell in love with the wine industry.”
A little later, everything happened very quickly, and a study place at Hochschule Geisenheim University was already in the bag. But then Anna attended the PIWI Symposium at IMC Krems – an event organised by the International Wine Business (IWB) programme. That’s where she fell in love a second time: “With the campus and the international spirit here.”
“The programme is an ideal mix for me.”
Anna has been studying International Wine Business at IMC Krems since the winter semester – and she is loving it. “In Krems, you get a business degree plus a lot of knowledge about wine. That’s the ideal mix for me.” What will she benefit from later? “During our studies, we learn about all the wine regions of the world – an overview that I wouldn’t otherwise get so easily. Plus, International Wine Law and the many contacts we make – I can use all of that in my job.”
At university until Thursday, then off to the vineyard
Together with her fellow students, she helped with the harvest at the winery of her mother, Dorli Muhr, in Carnuntum, Lower Austria – so study and practice go hand in hand. “I think it’s ideal that we have blocked lectures from Monday to Thursday. Many students then work in the family business on the weekends.” Anna van der Niepoort, for example, then makes her own wine at the Dorli Muhr winery. “100% Blaufränkisch grape. An easy-drinking wine that is fun, but still complex.”
Where real legends teach
Anna studies together with colleagues from gastronomy and sommelleries. “It’s also a cool, international mix. One of my IMC friends is from Hungary and another colleague is from China. I also think it’s great that we have real legends teaching here, like Darrel Joseph. I’m a huge fan of his tasting classes!”
Anna moved to Krems to study. “I could imagine living here in general.” She has already found a favourite wine bar: Weinhimmel in the city centre. The owner? Mio Schild, who also studied International Wine Business at IMC Krems. The programme opens many doors in the industry. We are curious to see which one Anna will choose.
