This summer, Sofia Gilardi, a graduate student in tourism enrolled in her third year at the University of Turin (Italy) in Languages and Cultures for Tourism, and Guillermo Piedrafita, a student in management and law at the University of Zaragoza (Spain), completed a UNITA rural mobility internship on a wine estate in Mirepoix, Gers, a commune of 223 inhabitants.
They were warmly welcomed by Mr. Esquiro and his family at the Domaine de la Higuère. During the internship, Sofia and Guillermo were trained to give guided tours of the estate in French, English, Italian and Spanish.
Sofia and Guillermo stayed with other international students in the farmhouse on the estate. They each had their own room. Meals were prepared by Mrs. Esquiro, and the students helped with preparation and logistics.
The winemaker taught them about the history of the estate, which has been in the family since 1784 (9 generations of winemakers), the history of the building, and the winemaking process for red, rosé and white wines. They carried out certain stages in the production process, such as tending the vines and bottling the wines. Mr. Esquiro introduced them to oenology, so that they would be able to taste the different wines for visitors. They also learned sales techniques for the estate store.
The trainees really enjoyed this rural experience. It enabled them to improve their French, discover the winegrowing business in its entirety, and enjoy a unique experience.