PASSIONATE wine enthusiast Ben Williams was full of pride during his geology lecture at university this year after a bottle of Wynns Coonawarra Shiraz was showcased to a room of aspiring wine makers.
The Penola resident is in his first year of the four year viticulture and oenology degree at the University of Adelaide.
“A highlight for me was when our lecturer displayed a bottle of wine when discussing the importance of soil and the bottle was a Wynns Coonawarra Shiraz,”
Mr Williams said.
“I was really upbeat about it.”
Mr Williams decided to pursue formal winemaking studies after helping his father, a grape grower, on their block with pruning and also tagged along on trips to take the grapes to wineries.
“I then completed my Year 10 work experience at Wynns Coonawarra, which I thoroughly enjoyed, working for a bit in their lab and in the cellar,” Mr Williams said.
Following this, he completed his gap year at Brand’s Laira Coonawarra, further cementing his desired future career path.
“Every minute of what I was doing was fun, no matter what it was,” Mr Williams said.
This experience left Mr Williams with an advantage over his fellow university students.
“At times study can be tedious, but I am sticking at it as I have witnessed what you get to do afterwards,” he said.
Mr Williams has a fascination with grapes and said they were a complex product which produces diverse characteristics.
“I think it is amazing that no vineyards are the same and no vintages are the same,” he said.
However Mr Williams said he was sad to leave his job.
“It was difficult leaving as I enjoyed what I was doing and I was surrounded by great people,” Mr Williams said.
During the university holidays, Mr Williams travels home and continues to work for his father on their vineyard.
After university, the student hopes to explore and experience different ways of producing wine.
“I would like to travel to the Napa Valley, France and South Africa,” Mr Williams said.
He said he was eager to absorb the microbiology, chemistry and learn about climate impact and the different influences on wine.
Eventually, Mr Williams said he would like to return to the region.
“Lectures in Adelaide have been up there talking about the unique Coonawarra region and that makes me proud,” Mr Williams said.
“You have to be proud of where you come from and we make great wine here.”
