Women in wine prove resilient in a difficult year

There was some disdain when the board of the Australian Women in Wine Awards (AWIWA) announced the first awards - some six years ago. 

Since then the event has grown in strength but remains the world’s only awards program for women in wine.

Founding AWIWA Advisory Board member and wine journalist Jeni Port said it was extremely satisfying to see that there has been a particularly strong collection of entries in a very difficult year. this year. 

“I think this is something that brings this year’s awards into their own," she said. "We asked entrants to tell us about their year, including the challenges, and they all rose to the occasion. 

“What’s more, their businesses often thrived. And they learnt so much more about themselves and their abilities. It’s been wonderful to read their stories.”

All categories have three finalists being announced today, except in the case of the Champion of

Diversity and Equality, in which the judges have selected just two.

The finalists in each award category are (in alphabetical order by surname):

Cellar Door Person of the Year – sponsored by Langton’s

• Jess Greatwich - Krondorf Creek Farm (SA)

• Paris Hokin - Arlewood Estate (WA)

• Samantha Mitchell – First Drop Wines (SA)

Winemaker of the Year – sponsored by Tonnellerie Saint Martin

• Natalie Cleghorn – Yalumba & Hill-Smith Family Vineyards (SA)

• Natalie Fryer – Bellebonne Wine Company (Tas)

• Cate Looney – Brown Family Wine Group (Vic)

Viticulturist of the Year – sponsored by Wine Australia

• Brooke Howell - Yalumba Family Winemakers (SA)

• Cath Kidman - Wynns Coonawarra (SA)

• Alexandra Miller – Voyager Estate (WA)

Champion of Diversity & Equality – sponsored by Australian Grape & Wine

• Curly Haslam-Coates – Vintage Tasmania (Tas)

• Helen Strachan – Pernod Ricard Winemakers (SA)

Owner/Operator of the Year – sponsored by Bacchus Academy

• Melissa Brown – Gemtree Wines (SA)

• Laura Carter - Unico Zelo (SA)

• Lisa Margan - Margan Estate (NSW)

Marketer of the Year – sponsored by denomination

• Trish Barry - Mastermind Consulting (NSW)

• Emily Hay - Barossa Grape & Wine Association (SA)

• Kristen Zerk – Z Wine (SA)

The seventh award category, Woman of Inspiration, is a judges’ choice award determined by the AWIWA Advisory Board. No entry is required, and the winner will be announced on the live streamed awards night of Tuesday, November 24.