Nuriootpa High School – Nurihannam Wines

In 1992 Nuriootpa High School became the first school in Australia to legally operate a commercial winery. Just one hogshead (~ 240 litres) was produced in the first year. The name NURIHANNAM originally came about from the combination of the school name, and the name of the school’s previous cattle stud. Over one hundred students are involved in the winemaking process each year, and partake in activities that include growing the grapes, making the wine, bottling, and design of wine bottle labels.

In 1994, the school made its first Chardonnay using grapes grown at Kalimna. The Chardonnay spends time at Treasury Wine Estate (formerly Wolf Blass winery) after crushing and pressing at the school.

In 1998, we produced our first Ruby fortified wine using school grown Shiraz grapes. Our Ten Year Old Tawny is a fortified wine that began as a Ruby, and was then aged in American oak at school for ten years before bottling.

A premium Barossa Class Shiraz was first produced in 1998 and still continues to this day. This exceptional wine is made from A-grade grapes grown at Ebenezer, being placed in new American oak barriques, kindly donated by Cooperage Australia 1912.

Another Shiraz, named Barossa Scholar is made from grapes grown at school and our leased block ‘Higginbotham’. This wine has won many awards and is of excellent quality.

The aim of the Wine Education Program is to help students improve their wine making skills; produce high quality commercial wine; and to develop industry skills and career awareness in students so they may enter the Wine and Viticulture industry.

All profits go to funding the Agriculture programs and the advancement of our winemaking and viticulture facilities.

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