20 September 2017

Assistant Agriculture Minister Senator Anne Ruston has joined with students from Mount Lilydale Mercy College on Melbourne’s
north-eastern fringe to launch their 2017 vintage wines.

The unique Cabernet Sauvignon made by agriculture students from grapes grown on the College farm, McCauley Park, is the brainchild of teacher Tim Thompson, who has a background in viticulture and winemaking.

‘I began making wine with the students to broaden the agriculture experience for them,’ Tim explains, ‘and they have absolutely loved it.

‘Over Easter groups of students and parents helped harvest and make the wine. It is a real community event.’

The College sits at the gateway to the internationally acclaimed Yarra Valley winemaking district, and Tim says the region’s wineries have been strongly supportive of the students’ efforts, now in their third year.

‘We’ve had amazing support from the local industry, particularly Yering Station, who have donated the oak barrels and assisted us with the analysis and winemaking aspects of the process.’

The 2017 vintage consists of 300 bottles made from some 400 kilos of grapes harvested from the 260 vines growing at McCauley Park.

Previous Mount Lilydale Mercy College vintages have won silver and bronze medals at the Eltham Wine Show, Australia’s largest amateur food and wine expo.

The wine is available from the College.