Hands-on winemaking

By Monique Ebrington
CHARCOAL and wine made for a perfect combination last Tuesday 30 June.
Members of Charcoal Lane Restaurant, including young trainees and staff, visited TarraWarra Estate for an educational and interactive look at the winemaking process.
Charcoal Lane is Mission Australia’s latest project that is aimed at providing training, work experience and life skills for Aboriginal and disadvantaged youths.
Program manager Steven Gibson said the staff and trainees had been appreciative of the opportunity to visit TarraWarra before the opening on the Fitzroy restaurant this month.
“Right before we opened the restaurant we wanted to show them (the staff and trainees) the different elements of the hospitality industry — including winemaking and tourism,” Mr Gibson said.
“It’s not all serving and cooking. There are other branches of the industry they can be a part of.”
“It was also great for them to see where a product comes from and the care that goes into making wine.”
Mr Gibson said he looks forward to helping the youths, who have come from difficult backgrounds, become exceptional hospitality staff.
Charcoal Lane’s tour of TarraWarra included a Welcome to Country by Aunty Dot Peters, a farm and vineyard tour, a tour of the TarraWarra Museum of Art and tour of the winery.