Bordeaux, Anyone?

Nicole Notel ’20, an entrepreneurship and management major, is on her way to France — part of study abroad through Stetson’s School of Business Administration.

During the summer of 2017, Nicole Notel ’20 had the uncommon opportunity to work at the Wolffer Estate Vineyard, located near her hometown in New York. In her internship, Notel performed many administrative tasks, but her favorite activity was to coordinate vineyard tours for guests. 

That’s when she met the estate founder, Christian Wolffer. 

Between tours, Notel walked across the grapevines fields with Wolffer and listened to his stories about traveling to different wine regions in France. At that time, Notel promised herself that one day she would travel to the French countryside. 

A year and a half later, the opportunity has arrived.

Notel, majoring in entrepreneurship and management in Stetson’s School of Business Administration, will participate in a faculty-led study-abroad course with travel to Bordeaux, France — her first experience in Europe. 

There, she will learn about the production and commercialization of wines and spirits. The program will take her to the city of Paris first and then to the renowned wine region of Bordeaux. During the experience, she and her peers will visit the Museé du Vin, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and several vineyards and distilleries. The visits also include guided wine and champagne tastings, as well as discussions with French wine and spirit entrepreneurs.

The program is led by Lou Paris, M.B.A., assistant professor and director of the Prince Entrepreneurship Program. The trip, scheduled for June 1-14, counts as a business elective or an international entrepreneurship course. 

“Nicole has an interest in environmental issues. That’s why, when she completes her degree in May 2020, she will look for employment opportunities in eco-friendly fields. She thinks that the trip to France will give her a global perspective on environmentally-conscious land management,” Paris said.

If you are interested in joining this trip, complete your application through the WORLD portal