Wine network more than just a grapevine

The new Wine Alumni Network has been developed for current and former staff and students, with the specific needs of industry in mind.
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Wednesday, 1 August 2012

Australia's foremost wine teaching and research university - the University of Adelaide - is establishing a new alumni network dedicated solely to wine.

The new Wine Alumni Network will be launched tomorrow (Thursday 2 August) at the University's Waite Campus.

The study of winemaking in Australia began at the Roseworthy Agricultural College (now Roseworthy Campus, University of Adelaide) with the establishment of the Diploma of Oenology in 1936. Since the 1990s, the Waite Campus has been home to the University's various wine programs.

The network will serve as a connection between multiple generations of staff and students who have studied, taught and researched any aspect of winemaking or wine business at both Roseworthy and Waite. Many of these alumni have gone on to make major contributions to the wine industry in Australia and around the world.

The inaugural Patron of the Wine Alumni Network is Dr Patrick Iland OAM, who has 40 years of teaching and research experience at the University of Adelaide. Now retired from the University, Dr Iland writes and publishes wine books with former colleagues, ex-students and members of industry.

"The Wine Alumni Network is an acknowledgement of the many useful relationships that already exist between our alumni within the wine industry," Dr Iland says.

"The network aims to expand the sense of friendship and belonging across all wine alumni - current and former staff as well as current and former students. It is inclusive of alumni from viticulture, oenology, wine marketing or wine business streams, or any other areas of the wine industry they have entered into."

Dr Iland says the Wine Alumni Network has been developed with the specific needs of industry in mind.

"With input from alumni, we hope to create opportunities for both personal and career development, while increasing the University's understanding of alumni needs and strengthening the relationship between the University and its graduates," he says.

"By serving as a central connection point, we believe the Wine Alumni Network will provide a range of benefits to staff, students, graduates and the industry itself."

The University's School of Agriculture, Food and Wine will officially launch the Wine Alumni Network on Thursday 2 August at Urrbrae House, Waite Campus.

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