Last night (in Melbourne) young gun Brendan Carter from South Australia was awarded the dux of Australia’s only Italian wine-focused education programme – the “Lorenzo Galli Wine Scholarship” – winning a $10,000 all-expenses paid trip to Italy to explore its most outstanding wine regions and key producers, a prize that is personally contributed by the founder and proprietor of Galli Estate Winery, and the patron of the scholarship, Pamela Galli.

As the lucky dux, Brendan scooped the award from a total of 15 selected scholars* during a two-day masterclass held at Enoteca Sileno, Carlton (Vic). Brendan was the youngest member of the group, and is currently in his second year of a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology at the University of Adelaide. All of the scholars completed a comprehensive, rigorous blind tasting of over 100 benchmark Italian wine varietals from Australia and Italy, culminating in a written and verbal exam to assess the standout scholar.Judges -Jane Faulkner (wine writer, columnist and show judge), Michael Trembath (Italian premium wine importer) and Dan Sims (wine consultant) considered Brendan to have excelled in all aspects of the programme.The scholars in the 2011 programme were deftly guided by a line-up of the who’s-who of Italian wine aficionados in Australia and Italy. Joining the judging panel to facilitate the programme wereGiuseppe Vaira (winemaker, G.D. Vajra), Stephen Pannell (winemaker, S.C. Pannell), Luke Lambert (winemaker, Luke Lambert Wines), Ben Ranken (winemaker, Galli Estate), Max Allen (wine writer, author and show judge), Kim Chalmers (Manager, Chalmers Wines), Mark Walpole (viticulturalist) and the 2010 dux of the Lorenzo Galli Scholarship, Jeannette Clarke.

Now in its third year, the Lorenzo Galli Wine Scholarship celebrates the diversity and richness of Italy’s wine and history while showcasing the latest trends in Australia with its interpretations of Italian varietals. The program’s patron, Pamela Galli, conceived the idea of a scholarship to honour her late husband, Lorenzo Galli. Tuscan-born, Lorenzo arrived inAustralia in 1952 and diligently built up a successful property business. He later added vigneron to his list achievements when he and Pamela created Galli Estate Winery in Victoria’sSunbury region in 1997 and also developing their 260 acre Heathcote ‘Camelback’ vineyard.
Fruit from the Heathcote site now comprises the majority of Galli Estate’s wine portfolio and today Galli Estate continues to craft premium, sought-after wines, with an Italian leaning.
Lorenzo had a love for Italian grape varieties and the winemaking craft from growing grapes to their production; it was his dream to share that passion and encourage younger people to learn more about that process. This scholarship is Pamela’s tribute to Lorenzo.
“Lorenzo would be very proud of the scholars who have participated with such great enthusiasm in this year’s program. I am delighted to see so many young faces with a strong penchant for Italian wine. They too, should be proud of their achievements,” noted Pamela.
Registration to the 2012 programme will open in June 2011.For more information or to lodge an interest in the 2012 programme visit www.winescholarship.com.au.