The Royal Adelaide Show hosts an important and prestigious school wine competition for schools, TAFE colleges and universities each year. The national school wine competition has several categories. These range from industry-supported production all the way through to Class 3 wine produced entirely by a school. This is a special category as it is only open to schools producing their wine entirely on site. MLMC has competed in this category in the past, winning silver and gold medals.

This year was a significant milestone for the program. As well as the 2018 and 2019 MLMC vintages picking up silver and gold medals respectively, our 2019 was also awarded the Programmed Property Services Trophy for 'best wine made by a school’. This is the top award in a wine show described by industry publication Grapegrower and Winemaker as the “most prestigious wine show in Australia”.

It is important to note that the wine is entirely made at our school, with students being as involved in almost all aspects of the process from pruning the vines, to harvesting and participating in ferment operations and bottling. I would like to take the opportunity to thank our major sponsor, Yering Station, for their ongoing support with sulphur analysis, advice and supply of oak barrels. I would like to thank our program patron Ms Suzanne Halliday and the wonderful students involved as well as my colleagues, who chip in and assist with the production of this wine. It is a credit to the capacity of our students to learn complex processes and adhere to strict quality standards.

This little program is kicking goals and most importantly inspiring students who take part to go on and explore related careers.