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Historically, in most businesses, the number of women at the top has been low. The glass ceiling is a explanation that is one of the reasons behind this. Refreshingly this is not the case in the Australian wine industry. When compared to another major player, Australia really stacks up well.

In California about 20 percent of leadership positions in wine are women. In Australia, that percentage climbs to at least 38 percent!  Women fill roles as varied as business owner, CEO, winemaker, and viticulturist. 

Any wine lover will agree that diversity in wine is a good thing, and these pioneering women are infusing their wines with new perspectives and new sensibilities.

Some great examples of Australian women in top roles in the Wine industry are :

Laura Carter
Owner/Winemaker
Unico Zelo
Adelaide Hills, South Australia

Born in Melbourne but raised across the globe, Laura has developed a unique passion to express Australian culture through wine. With a degree in agricultural science, she started working at the Henschke Winery before heading back overseas to gain experience in the Rhone Valley. She and her husband, Brendan, started Unico Zelo in 2012 with a mission to craft drinkable and refreshing wines that adhere to a minimal intervention philosophy.

Regarding the land they belong to, they approach Australian produce with respect and optimism, and seek to introduce this into broader farming initiatives and production. They try to showcase this attitude within their other businesses, Applewood Distillery and Harvest Social Cantina. Decanter Magazine ranks Unico Zelo’s The River Nero and Jade and Jasper Fiano among the “Top Australian wines made from Italian grape varieties.”

Laura appreciates that more successful women are working in wine. “There are many successful women working in the wine industry and it’s so important that we continue to highlight them and write stories about their successes,” she says. “This is what will inspire the next generation of female winemakers and cellar hands to be a part of our amazing industry.”

Alexia Roberts
Group Winemaker & Executive Manager: Wine Production
Galvanized Wine Group Pty Ltd [Penny’s Hill, The Chook, Thomas Goss]
McLaren Vale, South Australia

Alexia joined the Galvanized Wine Group (GWG) team in August 2013, with many years of experience in Italy, France, and Australia. She is passionate about applying her skills to evolving the full potential of Penny’s Hill estate-produced reds, as well as crafting elegant whites in neighbouring Adelaide Hills.

Her work at Penny’s Hill continues to earn gold medals, trophies, and high-pointed reviews, including ‘Best Australian Red Wine’ in 2016 and 2017 at Germany’s prestigious Mundus Vini competition. Also in 2016, her Cabernet was named ‘World’s Best Cabernet’ in 2016 at Concours International des Cabernets in France. In 2018, she brought home the ‘Champion Cabernet Sauvignon and Predominant Blends’ at the New Zealand International Wine Show.

Alexia serves on wine industry committees and is a graduate of the highly regarded Wine Australia Future Leaders program. She also crafts the wines for GWG’s regional brands, including The Chook and Thomas Goss.

About being a woman in the industry, Alexia says, “I haven’t ever been advantaged or disadvantaged for being female in this industry. I’ve been incredibly lucky to be able to juggle a young family and a career in winemaking with plenty of support and flexibility. Regardless of gender, those that are passionate, creative, and driven will be the most likely to succeed in this industry.”

Lucy & Rebecca Willson
Lucy Willson
General Manager
Bremerton Wines
Langhorne Creek, South Australia

After receiving her degree and traveling overseas, Lucy returned to Australia to take on running her family’s winery, along with her sister, Rebecca.

In 2000, Lucy completed a post-graduate course in International Wine Business at the University of Adelaide to expand her knowledge of the wine industry, marketing, and wine tourism.

She now manages the marketing, branding, sales, and administration side of the winery. Additionally, she oversees the highly successful Bremerton Cellar Door which won best Tourism Cellar Door for Fleurieu Peninsula for six years, earning “Hall of Fame” status as well. She has received numerous accolades and in 2018, was a regional finalist for 2018 EY Entrepreneur of the Year. ™

Lucy is actively engaged in the region’s wine and tourism industry, while also filling her role as partner to Ben and mother of two. She says being a woman makes running her business while maintaining her home life a juggling act. “The biggest challenge for us has been wanting to run a really good business, as well as finding work-life balance in a family business.”

Rebecca Willson
Winemaker
Bremerton Wines
Langhorne Creek, South Australia

Rebecca and Lucy Willson were the first sisters to run a winery in Australia. Rated five stars by the James Halliday Wine Companion, Bremerton is considered one of the best Australia has to offer.

With a degree in oenology and stints at wineries in Australia and California, Rebecca released her first label at the age of 25. It won a trophy as Best Boutique Cabernet Sauvignon in Australia. She has been called “one of Australia’s finest winemakers.”                
                                                           
In 2006, she was awarded a Len Evans Tutorial scholarship at what is regarded as one of the finest wine schools in the world. She has been recognized at many prestigious competitions and is committed to helping achieve global recognition for the Langhorne Creek wine region.

“At the time of joining the business, neither of us gave a second thought as to whether it was unusual for two women to be at the helm of a winery,” Rebecca says. “I never really thought about it until someone asked the question, but growing up, we never had any reason to think we were any different than boys. It feels normal; nothing has ever deterred us.”

As a wife to Tom and mother of two, she agrees with her sister that maintaining a work/home balance can be challenging. But as their winery’s tagline says, “It’s more than a winery, it’s our life.”

Corrina Wright
Winemaker and Director
Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards
McLaren Vale, Seaview sub-region

Corrina has been described by WBM Magazine as a “legend in the making.” Along with her cousin, she is keeping the winemaking legacy of six generations alive and thriving.

Corrina grew up among the family vineyards. After earning a degree in Agricultural Science (Oenology), and with grapes from her family, she created her first Shiraz. She then won a scholarship to study winemaking at the University of California, Davis. After a stint at Gallo Sonoma, she returned home and, in 2005, graduated from the prestigious Len Evans Tutorial While working for others, Corrina continued to make Oliver’s Taranga wines at local wineries. In 2004 she turned her full attention to her own business.

Corrina is very active in the wine industry, serving on several committees and boards, including the Australian Women in Wine Awards. She also speaks at industry events and writes for wine publications. “I love being part of a network of amazing women in wine in Australia and the world,” Corrina declares. “They are constant sources of inspiration and passion and awe.”

In 2019, she was named ASVO Winemaker of the Year. Her wines have been honoured with numerous awards. She and her husband also produce craft beer and operate a taphouse.

Having diversity in any workforce is a great thing. Having different ideas from different people be it, sex, ethnicity, or age brings different view points and expertise to solving problems and creating opportunities.

Kennards Self Storage is a business that believes the person that gets any employment opportunity from top to bottom, gets that opportunity based on their employment history and attitude to work. Kennards Self Storage has eight Operations Managers running over 90 locations. 4 of them are women. If you love your wine like the women in the Wine Industry do, then you will love the people that love taking care of wine.
 
Storing wine is a passion of Kennards Self Storage. Kennards Storage has purpose built wine storage cabinets in temperature controlled environments that are accessible 24 hours a day. Wine storage can be easy to organise. Self storage is great because you have your own space with no lock in contracts, meaning you only pay for the days used. The quoted amount is for a one month period. Pay for that period and then get a refund for the days not used if you move out before months end. This pro-rata amount is calculated to the day you finish.

Kennards moving boxes range includes the Wine Storage Box which carries 12 bottles of wine and fits the wine storage cabinet perfectly.

Visit Kennards Self Storage here and you will find a very easy to use Website.

Here you can view prices and sizes. You can then reserve or rent a space at a location near you with in a couple of clicks. From there you can then purchase Wine Storage Boxes and get them delivered to your home or office. Pack your wine and then bring them to your storage space.
 
If you purchase wine online, get them delivered to your Kennards Storage facility and we will accept the delivery on your behalf and then contact you so that you can pick them up or simply place them in your wine cellar. No more wine sitting at your front door waiting for you to come home.

There are solutions to all problems. Kennards Self storage has decades experience in providing storage solutions to the casual drinker, the wine collector and businesses like wine importers and restaurants.

Kennards Self Storage – Creating the space for Change

Photo: Courtesy of Bremerton Wines. Lucy and Rebecca - Bremerton Wines