A third generation viticulturalist, Aaron Salvestrin has tannins running through his veins and wanted to make his mark on the ultra-competitive wine industry.
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At just 25, Griffith's Aaron Salvestrin owns Sans Pareil Estate winery, which has enjoyed extraordinary growth in its three years of operation.
"I grew up on a vineyard and ever since I can remember, I was fascinated by the wine industry," Mr Salvestrin said.
"I helped out with harvest from a young age and got a job as a vineyard hand at McWilliam's when I was 18."
Mr Salvestrin enrolled in Certificate III in Wine Operations at Griffith TAFE in 2013
"It really filled in the blanks for me and helped me understand the reasons behind why we did certain methods of pruning and other tasks in the vineyard."
With the practical skills and work experience, Mr Salvestrin went on to complete a Bachelor of Viticulture in 2017 before launching Sans Pareil.
The Australian wine sector contributes over $40 billion annually to the Australian economy and employs more than 170,000 people, with the Riverina alone growing 15 per cent of the nation's total grape production.
TAFE NSW Griffith wine industry teacher Frank Alampi said it was gratifying to see graduates like Mr Salvestrin making their mark.
"Aaron was such a diligent student and it's brilliant to see him progressing so well - it's why you teach," Mr Alampi said.
"There are hundreds of jobs in the Riverina wine industry and there are so many different avenues to progress your career, especially if you have the right qualifications to make you job ready."
