16 December 2024
Ever had a dream to work in the stunning greenery of a vineyard, learn how to harvest grapes, or acquire skills in the art of wine tasting?
You’ve heard it through the grapevine – our wine operations qualification has landed!
South Metropolitan TAFE (SM TAFE) is offering a brand-new course, the FBP20521 Certificate II in Wine Industry Operations, which will provide a nationally recognised qualification to begin an entry-level role in a vineyard or wine cellar.
Lecturer Murray Edmonds will teach the course, taking students step-by-step through vineyard operations on a grassroots level from planting, pruning and growing grapevines to learning principles of wine production. Students will gain skills in how to taste wine, assess wine, and describe wine quality and style.
“Having just left the wine industry, I was aware of what skills people need when they rock up at the front gate of a vineyard looking for a job and possibly a career.
"My role, as I see it, is to get students excited about an industry that served me very well for over 30 years and took me all around the world really. I can advise them too on what the pathways are out into industry and what you need to do to get there."
Murray Edmonds
SM TAFE Lecturer
It’s been a labour of love for Murray, who spent the last 30 years managing both large and small vineyards in the Margaret River wine region and buying grapes for some of the state’s largest wineries all over the south-west of Western Australia.
His career began in Mount Barker, South Australia, when his wife was posted there to begin her career in teaching. Murray took on one of the two jobs available in the town and began as a labourer in vineyards, building them from scratch.
Progressing to a supervisory role, he then completed an Associate Diploma of Applied Science (Viticulture) at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. From here he backpacked around the world, stopping to work a short stint in the Willamette Valley, Oregon Wine Country in the USA.
Murray then returned to his home of WA, beginning work in the Swan Valley and becoming Chief Viticulturist at renowned winery Evans & Tate, being heavily involved in their relocation to Margaret River.
Ready to enjoy a relaxing retirement, Murray was swiftly recruited to pass on his extensive knowledge to the next generation of wine industry professionals at SM TAFE.
Murray says that the demand for this new qualification was identified and he saw the lecturing opportunity as a great fit for his experience.
“Having just left the wine industry, I was aware of what skills people need when they rock up at the front gate of a vineyard looking for a job and possibly a career.
“My role, as I see it, is to get students excited about an industry that served me very well for over 30 years and took me all around the world really. I can advise them too on what the pathways are out into industry and what you need to do to get there,” Murray said.
After garnering years of experience, we had to ask Murray the all-important question ‘what is your favourite wine?’
“Probably chardonnay – it’s one of the most versatile wines we grow in Australia, it covers a really nice flavour profile. Chardonnay is coming back because they’ve fine-tuned the style to make it more appealing.
“You can match it with every food style - a big steak, lobster, or a stir-fried Asian meal. So for me - it’s chardonnay,” he said.
Ready to uncork your future career in the wine industry?
Take the first step with the FBP20521 Certificate II in Wine Industry Operations, which will prepare you for entry-level roles such as vineyard or winery assistant.
Gain hands-on skills in an environment that emulates current industry practices at our Murdoch campus. The course also involves group visits to local vineyards, such as those in the Swan Valley wine region.
Learn grapevine maintenance, build an introductory skillset in tasting wine, as well as vineyard operations including using a tractor, forklift and chainsaw. This course paves the way for future study in more advanced viticulture qualifications and can also be taken as a hobby course for wine enthusiasts. Check out the course page on our website to enrol…
Applications are now open for Semester 1, 2025!
Murray is ready to pass his extensive wine industry knowledge on to students.
An introductory skillset in wine tasting is part of the course.
Murray, standing alongside a grapevine at the SM TAFE Murdoch campus.
Murray, (far left), pictured with two lecturers at SM TAFE.
Students will learn to assess a range of wines for quality and taste.