It’s an industry worth around AUD $5 billion and employs thousands of people in Australia.
But despite these statistics, and the fact that on any given day around 30 million glasses of Australian wine are consumed worldwide, the wine industry has stereotypically been considered a man’s world.
No more. With more women than ever breaking down the (wine) glass ceiling, FEMAIL met two of Australia’s top female winemakers at the top of their game.
As well as finding out how they got into the hugely competitive industry, Samantha Connew, from Stargazer Wine in Tasmania, and Corrina Wright, from Oliver’s Taranga in McLaren Vale, also shared their top tips for choosing a good bottle.
FEMAIL met two of Australia’s top female winemakers at the top of their game (pictured: Corrina Wright of Oliver’s Taranga) to find out how they got into the competitive industry
They also shared their top tips for picking a good bottle of wine (pictured: Samantha Connew)
Corrina Wright (pictured) said wine was in her blood, thanks to her family – she said she loves her job because it’s unpredicatable and requires her to juggle all sorts of different things
While for Corrina Wright, wine was in her blood (‘I am sixth generation to farm the same land, and we have been growing grapes all of the time,’ she told Daily Mail Australia), for Samantha Connew, a career in the vineyards wasn’t supposed to be the case:
‘I was doing a Law degree at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. To support my way through university, I worked at a wine bar for years and years,’ she explained.
Ms Connew (pictured), meanwhile, was studying for a law degree when she fell in love with wine and winemaking
One thing soon led to another – the then-student became ‘hooked on wine and the wine industry’:
‘I decided to abandon all hope of a possible law career,’ she laughed.
A typical day for both women is unlike many people in the conventional 9-5 daily grind:
‘It’s very unpredictable,’ Ms Wright said. ‘During vintage, it’s full-on in the winery and the vineyard – tasting grapes, making wines, organising the harvest and juggling a million balls at once.
‘Then another day, it can be hosting a glamorous wine dinner in a flashy restaurant on the other side of the world. It’s all vert rewarding, though, and tests your brain all the time.
‘I like that it’s part art, part science, part horticulture and part business.’
‘I like that it’s part art, part science, part horticulture and part business,’ Ms Wright said of the nature of the industry (stock image)
‘Don’t be afraid to experiment and don’t get stuck drinking one style of wine,’ Ms Connew said. ‘Find a good independent local wine shop and ask for advice on different styles’ (stock image)
Speaking about their tips for buying wine, Ms Wright and Ms Connew were full of useful advice.
‘Don’t be afraid to experiment and don’t get stuck drinking one style of wine,’ Ms Connew said.
‘Find a good independent local wine shop and ask for advice on the different styles of wine to try.’
Ms Wright agreed. ‘Try something new,’ she said.
‘Maybe stick to a region that you love, but try a new producer. Or stick to a variety you like, and try someone else’s example.’
Ms Wright added that while you could stick to a region you love, you can also try a new producer – or stick to a variety that you like, and try another example (pictured: Yarra Valley)
Both said it helps if you can ‘visit the vineyard’ from which you’re buying from:
‘Connect with the producers and try something from the source.’
Right now, Ms Wright and Ms Connew said that rosé wines are enjoying a huge resurgence – ‘the drier styles, rather than the sweeter old style’:
‘Australian sparkling is also on the rise,’ Ms Wright said.
Ms Connew said that ‘the numbers show that women buy and drink less wine than men, but they buy more expensive wine’.
‘I definitely have an ethos of drink less, but drink better. Medium-bodied red like Pinot Noir and Gamay are really popular at the moment across the board.’
Ms Wright and Ms Connew said that rosé wines are enjoying a huge resurgence – ‘the drier styles, rather than the sweeter old style’; medium-bodied reds are also popular (stock image)
For those who want to get into the wine industry, but have no idea how, Ms Connew said it’s all about honing in on a single area:
‘Figure out which section of the industry you want to work in, whether it’s sales, viticulture or winemaking, and then plot out how you’re going to make it happen.
‘A big part of it all is having a role model or mentor – male or female – who can provide advice and support.’
While she acknowledged that there is still progress to be made – ‘unfortunately women make up less than 10 per cent of Australian winemakers’ – she said that it’s ‘all about ‘diversity and having different backgrounds’.
Ms Wright concluded: ‘[Men need us because] apparently we have a keener sense of smell, as have to be able to protect our kids from things which smell bad – this is at its peak when we’re pregnant.
‘Does this make a difference in wine? Maybe!’.
‘Figure out which section of the industry you want to work in, whether it’s sales, viticulture or winemaking, and plot out how you’ll make it happen,’ is Ms Connew’s (pictured) advice
Corrina Wright (Winemaker and Director of Oliver’s Taranga in McLaren Vale) and Samantha Connew (Winemaker and Director of Stargazer Wine in Tasmania) are both involved in the Women in Wine programme.
This will be held at Australia House in London on 26 September.
The event will be the largest gathering of female Australian winemakers and winery owners in the world.
For more information about the programme, visit Wine Australia’s page here.