Bernard Blackley
Bernard Blackley, Manager, Blacklea Vineyard
In 2003, at 58 years of age, Bernard Blackley retired as a senior executive of the Federal Government, having earlier acquired a 50-acre vineyard in Mudgee in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales.
With no viticultural experience, Bernard enrolled in Dookie College’s Graduate Diploma Program (Viticulture & Winemaking Technology), graduating in 2006.
Today, from that standing start and with the support of Dookie’s teaching staff, Bernard actively manages the vineyard and a recently opened Tasting Room through which he markets the wines and olives produced on the property.