Ann Manning
Long-serving lecturer and wine professional Ann Manning is being remembered as a passionate and generous contributor to the wine industry. A colleague of Manning’s at Melbourne Polytechnic, head of Higher Education Nicola Cooley, and a past student Andi Davison, have compiled the below eulogy with contributions from other students whose lives Manning touched.
Vale Ann Manning – A Much-Loved Educator and Wine Professional Farewelled
The Australian wine community is mourning the loss of Ann Manning, a long-serving lecturer, mentor and industry contributor whose passion, intellect and gentle humour shaped the careers of so many.
Ann began her professional life in science, completing a Chemistry degree at the University of Melbourne before spending years teaching chemistry, science and mathematics. But it was wine that ultimately captured her imagination. She went on to complete a Bachelor of Wine Science at Charles Sturt University, make wine in the Macedon Ranges, and eventually bring her blend of scientific rigour and creative curiosity to Melbourne Polytechnic, Victoria.
Former colleague, Nicola Cooley, who worked closely with Ann for more than a decade, remembered her as “a pioneer—leading the first online wine tasting and evaluation long before virtual learning became the norm.” She recalled her tireless work ethic, often staying late to support students in blended delivery. “Her passion, generosity, and pioneering spirit have left an indelible mark on Melbourne Polytechnic and on all who had the privilege to learn from her,” Nicola said.
Ann’s impact is perhaps most clearly reflected in the students she inspired. Past student and now Melbourne Polytechnic lecturer, Andi Davison (Pip & Ra Wine), described feeling an immediate kinship: “Like me, she had been a teacher and a winemaker with a strong passion for wine and a thirst for knowledge… I feel very privileged to have had my start in the industry under her tutelage.” Andi added, with affection, that Ann would be “extremely missed, especially at our Christmas parties, where she always made an appearance.”
Past student, Andrea Walker (Sutton Grange), shared vivid memories of Ann’s mix of intellect and warmth—from road-tripping through South Australian wine regions fuelled mostly by meat pies, to watching her calmly assess vast tasting flights with characteristic precision: “She could taste pencil shavings, kerosene notes or soaring citrus… her professionalism making us seem a more knowledgeable cohort by association.” Andrea also recalled her stories of visiting antechinus in her home office, mulberry season in the Macedon Ranges, and her delight in tricking her into enjoying a Sauvignon Blanc.
Past student, Georgia Dale (Georgia Dale Wines), remembered her simply as “a kind, beautiful teacher with a great sense of humour… highly knowledgeable and a pleasure to be taught by.”
Ann pursued excellence throughout her career, including work toward the Master of Wine qualification and service as a WSET educator. Yet those who knew her best will remember her most for her generosity, humility and unmistakable spark.
Vale Ann. Your legacy lives on in every student you lifted, every wine you illuminated, and every moment of quiet brilliance you shared.
Are you a Daily Wine News subscriber? If not, click here to join our mailing list. It’s free!
Dining and Cooking