Second Year Breadth Subjects
Vine to Wine
The subject begins with freshly harvested wine grapes. Stuents will then follow the journey through fermentation to wine in the bottle, gaining an understanding of the chemical and biological processes involved and the multitude of options to manipulate the process.
The journey then resolves, tracing cardinal events in the vineyard that result in the formation of fruit and ripening in the lead up to harvest. This includes an appreciation of the effects of season and climate, and a particular emphasis on how vines are managed to grow the fruit required to produce the diversity of wines that we drink.
Vine to Wine is flexibly delivered, and students will gain knowledge and understanding through lectures, readings, practical sessions, and winery visits.
Students will gain a detailed knowledge in exciting wine related areas including:
- The biology of vineyards
- Grapevine physiology and its management
- The wine production process - from the receival of grapes to the commencement of maturation
- The chemistry, microbiology and biochemistry of yeast and bacteria in wine procuction
- Analytic and quality control techniques
- How to evaluate a range of wine types and styles
Vine to Wine is offered to students from all faculties in the sumer (February) semester. The subject is delivered in an intensive five day format with additional assessment requirements.
This subject is conducted as a one week residential program in late February at the University's Dookie Campus with its historic winery and vineyard during the height of the grape vintage. Accommodation is available on campus for students.
Breadth Sequence:
Wine and Viticulture:
- Australia in the Wine World
- Vine to Wine
- Wines of the World
Water for Sustainable Futures
Water is fundamental to life on our planet, shaping landscapes, natural ecosystems and civilisations. Whether the subject of conflict or a source of reativity, there is nothing more important in the Australian lanscape than water, and we face no greater challange than its sustainable management.
Globally water will become an increasingly valuable resource as populations grow and climate change alters natural rainfall distributions. Water for Sustainable Futures will enable students to understand:
- The water cycle and the role of water as a global resource, including future implications
- The impact of catchment management and the role of water in Australian ecosystems
- The economic value of water, the role of water markets, and the legal isues around water
- The socio-political impact of water on communities past, present and future.
Water for Sustainable Futures is offered to students from all facultiies in first semester. The subject is delivered through a series of lectures, tutorials and forums. Field trips to urban and regional areas to examine the impact of water catchments and their use will also be undertaken.
Food, Water and Wine:
- Food for a Healthy Planet
- Water for Sustainable Futures
- Wines of the World