China's most popular spirit brand, Moutai, will establish a college to teach wine-related science, in an effort to promote China's national liquor brand worldwide

China's most popular spirit brand, Moutai, will establish a college to teach wine-related science, in an effort to promote China's national liquor brand worldwide

Already approved by the Ministry of Education, Moutai College will have five undergraduate programs, including brewing engineering, ecological engineering and food quality and safety studies. The college aims to enroll 5,000 students and will place an emphasis on wine-related technologies, the Xinhua News Agency reported

Similar to Russian vodka, Moutai is a distilled spirit made from sorghum, wheat or rice

With a history that dates back to the 1st century B.C., the brand first impressed foreigners with its mellow aroma and smooth taste at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. It is also a popular drink at state functions

Though the brand has a remarkable reputation both domestically and abroad, its sales have slumped in recent years, partly because of the Chinese government's crackdown on corruption, which has reduced the number of extravagant government receptions and gift exchanges

Facing this domestic downturn, the company has been exploring global cooperation with five overseas agencies in an attempt to become the world's No. 1 liquor brand

Some experts believe that the establishment of Moutai College will provide the company with a pool of professionals and a technological edge. It also could help Moutai to tap into the foreign market