Recently Marty visited the Tatura Men’s Shed in Victoria and found they have an usual activity happening in the shed – they make wine!
AJ, is not only the president of the Tatura men’s shed, but also the ‘chief winemaker’.
AJ explained that about 12 years ago a member came in and said they should make wine. AJ said “If you get together a bunch of misfits and pensioners that want cheap wine, then they’re gonna do it!”
And they did – the shed now makes between 400 and 600 litres a year – and have won a few of gold medals at amateur wine shows. In addition, they also make beer from grain and some ginger beer. AJ says it keeps the shedders happily involved and entertained.
The shed buys Shiraz grapes from Heathcote and bring them in. They have their own press, in which they crush, then press the grapes. This is then into open vats for about 8-9 days with the yeast. Next the wine is put it into 200 litre barrels with a few oak chips to impart an oak flavour. Twelve months later the wine is bottled, and can be drunk then, but some of the shedders keep their wine for two years before drinking. This year they are making 400 litres, but one year they made a massive 1000 litres!
The shed has a four by five 5 metres climate controlled cool room which is lined with pieces of paper that document each year of their vintages – the date the grapes were picked, the pH sugar levels, the temperature, when the yeast was added, how it was fermented through to the day when it was pressed, so they can compare vintages.
To sell the wine requires a licence, so instead she members who want to receive some of the wine much be active participants in the process. The shed members pay for the ingredients upfront – a dozen bottles costs $55.
AJ says “For the for 2024 vintage, members paid for it in February this year, and they’ll get it in February and 2025. So yeah, it’s a risk, or rather an investment!”
The men’s shed itself buys a share in each vintage. On Tuesdays the shed offers a lunch for $10, which includes a free glass of wine, a free homemade ginger beer, or sometimes a beer.
AJ explained that not all vintages are as good as others – the 2017 and 2019 vintages were a ‘pretty average’ – and the first one in 2013 was very ordinary. But over the years they have learned a lot along the way – the 2022 was outstanding, 2023 is drinking exceptionally good and current vintage 2024 is looking to be the same.
The many awards won by the shed
The shed usually enters one of the three amateur wine shows a year in either Frankston, Eltham or Mansfield. They have won a few bronze medals and the 2016 vintage was the first gold medal they won, and the Shiraz in 2022 won a silver medal.
“In 2022, we also had a bit of leftover grapes, and we made some Rosé – which not only won a Gold medal but also one the wine of the show trophy. Not bad for a bunch of a bunch of misfits old retired blokes in a shed! An over bloke with who over engineers cooking the sausage – he’s the instigator, and then there’s myself who we call the old age apprentice!”