Bendigo Wine Makers

BRIT Winery

THE ART of winemaking just went up a notch at Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE.

A $3.6 million Federal Government grant has transformed existing facilities on the ground floor of the School of Mines building into a spacious winemaking centre.

Federal minister for Vocational and Technical Education Gary Hardgrave, officially opened the site with state minister for youth affairs Jacinta Allan.

The new facility has taken a contemporary design, providing an inviting focal point for the BRIT city campus.

The campus now provides a functional, flexible and energy efficient building that accommodates a wine training centre and winery, staff office area and laboratory.

Food processing and manufacturing co-ordinator Elspeth King said students were now working in an operational winery purpose-built for winemaking.

"It's a clean and open space that we have now," she said.

"Students were formerly working in a modified environment that was tight and cluttered.

"We now have equipment specifically manufactured for the space, and it allows for a smooth flow of production."

Ms King said the facility had been a commercial winery for seven years, but would look to expand into cellar door also.

"We aim to provide a real work situation for the students, so it's anoperational winery and not just simulated training," she said.

Cellar Door

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Contact BRIT Winery