On Friday, November 21, 2025, 46 graduates of the Weincampus were bid farewell in a festive setting at the Herrenhof in Mußbach. In addition to the students, their friends and families, numerous personalities from politics, administration, business and science took part in the festive event, including guests of honor from the cooperating university in Colmar.
Wine campus alumnus Niko Brandner, who produces internationally renowned sparkling wines at Griesel & Compagnie in Bensheim, kicked off the event. In conversation with Prof. Dr. Dominik Durner, Brandner explained that "after studying at the Weincampus, he had mastered both the practical knowledge and theoretical contexts of winemaking and was able to start his career in 2013 with a great deal of self-confidence". Of course, there was also something for the palate for the guests, the "Grande Cuvée Dosage Zéro 2019" from traditional bottle fermentation from Griesel & Compagnie. This was followed by the ceremonial farewell to the recent graduates of the Bachelor's degree programs in Viticulture and Oenology, Master's in Viticulture and Oenology and MBA Wine, Sustainability & Sales. Outstanding academic achievements were then honored.
Helen Wagner was honored with an overall grade point average of 1.3 as the best graduate of the dual Bachelor's degree program in Viticulture and Oenology. Wagner's bachelor's thesis entitled "Adaptation of the Bague Vin Suisse closure for use with returnable wine bottles" was supervised by Prof. Dr. Dominik Durner. Wagner trained as a winemaker at the VDP winery Wagner-Stempel in Siefersheim in Rheinhessen. The Interessengemeinschaft Pfälzer Kellermeister e.V. donated prize money of €500 for Wagner's outstanding achievements and was impressed by her bachelor's thesis. Through Vinissima Frauen & Wein e.V., Wagner received an annual membership in the nationwide professional network for women in the wine industry. In future, Wagner will work in her parents' business, Wagner Kellereibedarf in Alzey.
Julian Döbler received the award for best graduate of the year in the master's degree course in viticulture and oenology with an overall grade point average of 1.0. Döbler's master's thesis is entitled "Transport routes of bottled German quality wines in the national wine market and their impact on the carbon footprint of a reuse wine bottle system" and was supervised by Prof. Dr. Marc Dressler. Döbler received prize money of €500 from Scharfenberger GmbH as well as a magnum bottle of Chateau Doisy Daene Sauternes from the Laffort company. Following his degree, Döbler is employed as a doctoral student in the WineIO research project and will remain at the Weincampus beyond his Master's degree.
Juliane Schäfer was awarded a prize by the VR Bank Südpfalz Foundation as the best graduate in the part-time MBA Wine, Sustainability & Sales degree program. Her thesis "Towards a Sustainable Pest Management in German Viticulture: A balanced and holistic approach to Ecology, Economy and Society with Consideration of Stakeholder Perspectives" with an overall grade point average of 1.3 was honored with €500. The thesis was supervised by Prof. Dr. Marc Dressler. Juliane Schäfer comes from the Klosterhof winery in Flonheim in Rheinhessen. Schäfer has been working as a key account manager for the Swiss manufacturer Givaudan in Dortmund since the beginning of this year.
Graduate Lena Hein from Weingut Peter Hein in Nittel-Köllig on the Mosel and graduate Bastian Spiess from Weingut Kohl-Spiess in Grünstadt-Sausenheim tasted two special wines with Prof. Dr. Ulrich Fischer that were produced by the two of them during their studies. Hein presented a "2023 Pinot Gris Barrique dry" and Spiess a dry red wine "2018 Cabernet Sauvignon".
At the Degree event, Bachelor graduates Lea Lechner and Beatrice Werwitzke had the floor in a joint review of the year and looked back on the individual semesters: "We realized that viticulture is also a science and not just a craft. On the excursions, we were very impressed by the functions in which the Weincampus alumni work after their studies. We remember the 5th semester because it was particularly varied. We were then able to put everything we had learned to the test in the four practical projects.
The academic graduation ceremony was supported by WEG Neustadt and the Neustadt Winegrowers' Alumni Association.
