Students at Corowa High School in southern New South Wales are crafting up to 750 bottles of wine each year as part of their educational curriculum.
For the past 25 years, the school has featured a functioning vineyard on its premises, established by a former educator.
The wine produced by the students is sold to faculty members and local residents through the town’s supermarket.
As vintage season arrives, wineries along the Murray River are bustling with activity, with workers engaged in the processes of picking, crushing, de-stemming, and fermenting their grapes for the new season.
Located in Corowa, which is in southern New South Wales, this vineyard stands out as it is run entirely by students.
Felicity Charles, the agriculture teacher at Corowa High School, noted that the vineyard is an integral aspect of the school’s offerings. “I believe the vineyard has been here since the early 2000s, making it around 25 years old,” Ms. Charles remarked. “Students engage in both theoretical studies on viticulture and practical experiences right in the vineyard.”
The vineyard grows varieties such as Shiraz, Durif, and Viognier, although students often refer to them simply as “red” and “white” grapes.
“This year’s vintage is going exceptionally well. We’ve been able to harvest our white grapes for the first time in a few years,” added Ms. Charles.
In optimal years, the vineyard can yield as many as 750 bottles of wine, which is popular among staff members. “The faculty really enjoys purchasing it,” she commented.
Students are involved in every stage of the winemaking process, from harvesting the grapes to utilizing a traditional basket press for crushing. “We wind it down and squash all the grapes,” Ms. Charles explained.
With assistance from local winemaker David White of Buller Wines, the school also manages the bottling and barreling of the wine. “We operate under a very limited liquor license, so we have a secure area on campus to store it,” Ms. Charles noted. “Sales are conducted through the school, and we distribute via the local IGA, with all proceeds reinvested into the program.”
The wine industry holds significant importance in the region, with roots extending over 150 years in the nearby town of Rutherglen. However, vineyards in the Corowa area are quite rare.
“In the 1960s and 70s, all the vines on the New South Wales side of the river were removed due to phylloxera in the soil,” Ms. Charles explained. “While we cannot transport vine materials across the border, we can move grapes, making us the only vineyard on the New South Wales side of this region.”
Ms. Charles emphasized that the vineyard experience is beneficial for students as they prepare for future employment in the local wine industry. “Having hands-on experience is incredibly valuable, and we maintain connections with local wineries,” she stated. “Several former students have secured jobs at local wineries and pursued international apprenticeships in vineyards overseas.”
Matilda Styles, an eighth-grade student, expressed her enthusiasm for the vineyard, saying, “It’s pretty cool — most schools don’t have one, so we get to do something unique.” However, she added, “We don’t get to taste the wine.”
Another eighth-grade student, Kayne Willet, concurred that the vineyard is indeed “pretty cool,” noting that it encourages students to contemplate their future career paths. “While I enjoy the subject, I think trucks are more my thing,” Kayne remarked, indicating his interest in a different industry.
