1995: Turning wine into work

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Tags: Arts, Science, winter-2011

Tyson Stelzer

Tyson Stelzer, Bachelor of Arts, Postgraduate Diploma in Education Bachelor of Science

One of Australia’s premier wine writers, Tyson Stelzer, believes writing is an opportunity to celebrate the great things we have to enjoy in life.

His first book was titled Cellaring Wine – a do-it-yourself guide to building home wine cellars that instructs readers on how to successfully modify refrigerators, regulate humidity, light and temperature.

Beginning his higher education at UQ in the early 90s, Mr Stelzer is neither a graduate of writing or agriculture; instead he completed dual majors in mathematics and studies of religion in 1995, a Diploma of Education in 1996, and finished a physics degree in 1999.

In 2001, after 10 years teaching high school students, Mr Stelzer shifted his hobby into a full-time writing job, aiming to break down the elitism of wine.

Now the co-owner of Brisbane’s World Wine Discovery, Mr Stelzer teaches interactive wine education courses to groups of local consumers.

Mr Stelzer said the courses provide an opportunity to “wow” people with great wines of the world and tutor them through unlocking the aromas and flavours they are experiencing.

“In spite of floods, droughts, heatwaves, brushfires, and locust plagues, Australian grape growers are holding their ground, producing a strong and diverse quality of wines,” he said.

Following the Queensland floods, Mr Stelzer acted as a community link between growers, producers and sellers around the country.

As a result of multiple offers for aid and support, Mr Stelzer organised the Australian Wine Trade Flood Relief Raffle.

Converting one of his seven websites, clearaboutwine.com.au, into campaign headquarters, the fundraiser collected more than $275,000 in a matter of weeks for flood and cyclone victims.

Mr Stelzer is also passionate about promoting alcohol education and safety through his writing, having released the Parent’s Guide to Teen Alcohol and Parties last year.

Sponsored by wineries from around the country, 200,000 copies were distributed to families throughout Australian schools.

By Allison Rock

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