Viticulture Student Awarded Sydney Royal Wine Scholarship

Charles Sturt University Viticulture student, Hannah McKay, has been awarded the prestigious 2017 Sydney Royal Wine Scholarship.

Employed by the iconic winery Vasse Felix in Margaret River, Western Australia, McKay studies by distance, travelling regularly to the New South Wales-based university.

The scholarship will give McKay $3,500 to put towards her tertiary studies, as well as the opportunity to steward at the 2017 KPMG Sydney Royal Wine Show in July.

“It’s wonderful to be able to offer the opportunity of stewarding at the KPMG Sydney Royal Wine Show to Ms McKay, who will benefit greatly from the learnings and networks she will receive access to. She not only impressed us with her passion for viticulture, but also her desire to play a leading role in encouraging more young women into the wine industry,” Sydney Royal Wine Show Committee Chair, Sally Evans said.

The budding 28-year-old McKay has a passion for plants and wine and is particularly interested in finding ways to combine traditional farming practices, land management techniques and native species in a vineyard setting.

She commented, “I’m thrilled to be selected for this amazing scholarship and excited about the opportunities it will bring as I work towards my goal of being a leading female viticulturist. The scholarship has encouraged me to further develop my learning in the field and classroom to reveal more sustainable ways of growing wine grapes in Australia.

“My wine journey began when I left an office job and started working in vineyards near my family home in the Southern Highlands wine region. I instantly fell in love with the industry and each day I look forward to what I’m going to learn and then implement in the vineyard.

“I am excited to connect with other like-minded people across Australia at the upcoming wine show and will use this scholarship to strengthen the precision and quality of Australian viticulture and wine.”

For the first time this year, the judges also awarded a runner-up scholarship after being so impressed by the level of applicants.

The 2017 runner-up honour went to Bachelor of Wine Science student at Charles Sturt University, Nicholas Conolly. Originally studying Local Government in Sydney, Connolly’s passion for wine took him down another route and he is now employed by Kirrihill Wines in the Clare Valley.

The Sydney Royal Wine Scholarship honours the memory and contribution of Graham Thorp, Chair of the Sydney Royal Wine Committee from 1984 – 1990.

In 2018, the scholarship will increase to $6,000 for full-time study or $3,000 towards part-time education and allows the winner to Steward at the Sydney Royal Wine Show in July.

Applications for the 2018 award open on1 August 2017 and can be completed online through the RASF website.

Image: Hannah McKay