Growing the Future of Wine at Westminster

At Westminster, students do not just study winemaking, they are immersed in the craft of viticulture firsthand among the vines of Sturt Grove Farm. 

Located on Westminster’s Marion campus, on the edge of South Australia’s celebrated wine region, Sturt Grove Farm is home to deep alluvial soils and established vines, some more than 20 years old.  

The vineyard is a dynamic learning environment where science, agriculture and enterprise intersect. Here students experience the responsibility and reward of nurturing a crop from season to season, gaining a firsthand understanding of the natural systems, careful planning and patience required to produce high quality fruit. 

Head of Viticulture, Isabelle Linde said the program allows students to experience viticulture in an authentic and meaningful way. 

“Viticulture gives students a powerful way to connect science, agriculture and enterprise,” she said. 

“At Westminster students are not only learning about wine production, they are actively growing and managing vines which brings their studies to life. The vineyard at Sturt Grove Farm provides an authentic learning environment where students can experience every stage of the season.” 

The strength of the program is also shaped by the Westminster community.  

Families and Old Scholars champion the initiative through the Sturt Grove Farm Shop while also sharing their expertise and industry connections.  

These relationships help create authentic pathways between the classroom and the professional world of viticulture and winemaking. 

Partnerships with respected producers across McLaren Vale further enrich the experience for students.  

Industry leaders including Samson Tall Wines, Wirra Wirra, Chalk Hill, Pertaringa, Bec Hardy Wines, Lazy Ballerina, Penny’s Hill and Pritham Viticulture generously share their knowledge and open their vineyards and wineries to students. 

“Our partnerships with wineries across McLaren Vale and other wine regions in South Australia are incredibly valuable,” Ms Linde said.  

“They allow students to learn directly from industry professionals and see how the knowledge they develop at School translates into real careers.” 

Last month, Westminster’s Year 11 Agriculture students travelled to McLaren Vale to experience two distinct sides of the Australian wine industry. 

The day began at boutique winery Samson Tall Wines where owner and senior winemaker Paul Wilson welcomed the group and shared his experience of running a small, hands-on winery.  

Students explored the important role oak plays in winemaking, examining vessels including barrels, hogsheads, barriques, staves and dominoes, and learning how each contributes flavour, texture and complexity to the final wine. 

The group then travelled to Wirra Wirra where they experienced winemaking on a much larger scale. In the vineyard, Head Viticulturist Anton Groffen introduced students to organic farming systems and sustainable vineyard management including water conservation, fertiliser use and canopy management. 

Inside the winery, Senior Winemaker Emma Wood guided students from crusher hill through the production areas to the barrel hall. 

Students observed the differences between white and red winemaking processes and the modern technologies that support large scale production.  

They also took part in a grape harvest determination where Emma demonstrated how winemakers assess ripeness using flavour, texture and other key indicators. 

“Visiting both a boutique producer and a large-scale winery in the same day helped students understand the diversity of the Australian wine industry. It shows them there are many different pathways within viticulture and winemaking,” Ms Linde said. 

“What excites me most is seeing students develop confidence in the vineyard. When they begin to understand how each decision affects the final product they start to see themselves as part of the industry.” 

Through experiences like these, Westminster’s agriculture program connects classroom learning with the real world. With a working vineyard on campus and strong partnerships across the wine industry, students gain rare opportunities to engage with professionals while developing a genuine understanding of one of South Australia’s most important sectors.