Credaro Estate is proud to announce that one of our Assistant Winemakers, Benjamin Totino, has been recognised in the inaugural Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology (ASVO) Scholarship Program.
Launched earlier this year, the program is structured with the flexibility to allow applicants to propose a unique professional development opportunity that best suits, whatever stage they are in their career.
Ben is one of five scholarship recipients, which will see him receive funds to assist in furthering professional education opportunities to enhance leadership skills, deepen industry knowledge, and engage in collaborative learning experiences with peers from varied backgrounds and sectors.
Describing the news as “really exciting”, Ben says he will use the NextGen Scholarship funds to support his enrolment in the Wines & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 3 course with renown winemaker and educator, Charlotte Newton.
“I’ve been an ASVO member since studying at university, and when I saw the announcement of the scholarship program I thought it was a great opportunity to throw my hat in the ring,” Ben said.
“I had no idea if my application would be successful or not, so I was really excited to receive the call from Chris (Waters, ASVO Executive Director) letting me know I was one of the successful recipients.
“I’ve found winemaking is all about adding new experiences and knowledge to your repertoire. By studying the WSET Level 3 course, my hope is that I will further my sensory skills, which in turn will give me more confidence when making tasting decisions.
“By improving my skills, it will directly contribute to improving wine quality with the Credaro winemaking team and also help me better educate Vintage and Cellar Door staff around winemaking.”
At the initial announcement, ASVO President Andy Clarke said the organisation was pleased to see a range of projects that applicants sought assistance for.
“These ASVO scholarships are not only about individual growth and career development, but also about bringing fresh ideas and expertise back to the Australian wine community,” he said.
“We are proud to invest in people who will help lead our industry forward.”
The ASVO Early Career Scholarships are supported by Wine Australia with levies from Australian grape growers and winemakers and matching funds from the Australian Government.
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Credaro's 2025 Winemaking Team (L-R): Benjamin Totino (Assistant Winemaker), Matt Godfrey (Chief Winemaker), Paul Callaghan (Winemaker) and Agustin Santelices (Assistant Winemaker).