Margaret Van Der Muelen
After working as a scientist in a pathology lab for many years, my husband and I decided we needed a 'sea change' and decided to follow our passion into wines. After another holiday in another wine region, I came back to work, jumped on the interent, and found the Graduate Diploma in Wine Technology and Viticulture.
Whilst my husband researched the cool climate wine regions of Australia, I studied, and we found Seville Estate in the beautiful Yarra Valley in Victoria, which was our region of choice. Vines planted in 1972 producing great quality, cool climate wines with an established brand and market.The course gave me all the grounding I needed to take over a working boutique winery, from the ground up. I now manage the viticulture, assist in winemaking, perform all the winery laboratory analysis, run the cellar door, and manage the business finances and marketing.
The course gave me hands on knowledge, not just theory. All the information provided was current, and up-to-date with the latest research, and also gave me more extensive palate experience. I have now enrolled into the Master of Wine Technology and Viticulture for 2008.
The staff are all very experienced, and great communicators. All in all, two of the best years of my life!