Faith Celebrates 30 Years of Mengler View Wines
On Friday 8 November Faith hosted a particularly significant Mengler View Wine Launch marking the 30th anniversary of its Mengler View Wine label. The evening provided an opportunity to acknowledge the humble beginnings of the program when wines were fermented in 20-litre drums and flagons in the corner of a chook shed into the flourishing industry-standard curriculum it is today.
Craig Moore, Learning Area Coordinator for Agriculture at Faith shares a longstanding passion for the program and explains ‘our wines represent a community-wide effort involving students, teachers, parents, local Lutheran congregations, industry professionals, and community members. Each year’s vintage emerges from a collaborative approach that includes Agriculture, Visual Arts and Design, Music, and Food and Hospitality. Year 11 Visual Arts students design unique wine labels inspired by the landscape and current design trends, while music students perform at the annual vintage launch, creating a rich, multi-disciplinary experience that highlights the College’s real-world approach to education.’
The evening’s formalities included the presentation of awards, with Jasmine McDonald recognised for her winning wine label design, and Sia Edwards and Nixon Semmler named joint recipients of the Award for Excellence in Wine Studies. Faith also took the opportunity to express heartfelt gratitude to its long-standing business partners—Kalleske Wines, CCL Label, and AP John Coopers—as well as the generous fruit donors whose support has sustained the program through both challenging and successful seasons. In an exciting announcement, Faith introduced a new partnership with Treasury Wine Estates, marking a new chapter of collaboration in the program’s journey.
Guests enjoyed a special interview with Faith Old Scholars Huon Fechner and Alex Dorman. Having completed the Winemaking program 20 years ago, Huon and Alex continue to make their mark in the wine industry, sharing insights from their careers and the impact of the program on their journeys.
Principal Steven Wilksch also spoke during the evening reaffirming ‘Beyond a winemaking project, Mengler View Wines represents Faith’s commitment to 21st-century learning, blending academic rigour with practical application. The Year 10 winemaking program, which typically draws participation from 50% of the cohort, equips students with skills in leadership, teamwork, and innovation—qualities essential in a modern workforce.’
In 2025, the College will celebrate 220 years of Lutheran education, 40 years at the Middle and Senior School, and 180 years at the Junior School, previously known as Tanunda Lutheran School. As part of this milestone, the Mengler View Winemaking team plans to continue strengthening its community partnerships and equipping future generations with skills in viticulture, commerce, and agriculture to prepare students for the wine industry.