Meet the Finalists: Cellar Door Person of the Year 2019

Cellar door staff are at the coal face of consumer interaction! This award recognises an outstanding Cellar Door employee, manager, operator, owner (or other relevant title) for their exceptional skills at the cellar door.

Congratulations to this year’s Cellar Door finalists! #winechicksrule

Jodhi Thoms, Elderton Wines

Jodhi has been employed at Elderton Wines since 2013, her current role is Cellar Door and Winery Experience Manager. Since arriving in the Barossa in 2000 she has been immersed in wine, wine tourism and hospitality industries, including seven years as Cellar Door and PR Manger at Turkey Flat Vineyards where she also worked as a vintage cellar hand in 2004.

Jodhi travelled through the wine regions of Europe in 2007 and is passionate about promoting the Barossa as a premium wine destination and providing exceptional wine experiences. In the last twelve months Elderton Cellar Door has been named 2019 South Australian Regional Winner in Great Wine Capitals ‘Best of Wine Tourism – Wine Tourism Services’ category, and is a current finalist in the 2020 awards.

Jodhi has contributed to various community organisations including the Barossa Farmers Market Founding Committee and as Convenor of SALA event “Degustation Barossa” Art and Wine Trail, and was most recently on the organising committee for Nuriootpa Strassenfest, a Barossa Vintage Festival event and a celebration of Barossan heritage.

Lauren Hutton, Bethany Wines

Lauren welcomes everyone into the cellar door with a warm smile and a passion to personalise their wine experience. Generally interested in others, Lauren is a valued member of the Bethany Cellar Door team and Schrapel family business. Lauren engages each customer individually and demonstrates a knowledge of the local history, wineries and culture of the Barossa. Her strong family connection and intimate local knowledge of the community gives her the confidence to provide a memorable experience for each person who walks through the doors. Currently undertaking her forth year of study in Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology, Lauren is able to present her vast knowledge through the Cellar Door experience. Her participation in the Barossa Vintage Festival Young Ambassador Program and being awarded the 2019 Elderton Winemaking Excellence Scholarship, Lauren is the epitome of a young, strong, passionate, innovative, driven young woman who will be a future leader within the Australian Wine Industry.

Ulrika Larsson, Clairault Streicker

Swedish born Ulrika arrived in Australia in 2005, one of the many planned stops she was going to have back-packing around the world during her gap-year before she followed in her family’s footsteps to become an engineer. Ulrika’s passion for wine led her to Margaret River where what was once just an interest became a career. After taking on her first Cellar Door role at Wills Domain she knew straight away that she had landed where she was meant to be and that her future had changed forever – a gap year quickly became a gap-decade (or two!). Continuing her career in Cellar Door Management, she joined Clairault Streicker in 2012 as Cellar Door Manager, overseeing the Cellar Door operation, Restaurant as well as the Wine Club.

Ulrika is the Founding Chair of the Margaret River Cellar Door Managers Committee which formed in 2018. The Managers Network has since helped to create a supportive and positive culture among Cellar Door Managers in the area and provided them with a platform where they can discuss issues and opportunities relevant to all of them.

Always eager to expand her palate, Ulrika will for the second year in a row take on the role as Chief Steward at the 2019 Margaret River Wine Show and James Halliday Cabernet Challenge. “It’s an amazing opportunity which means I can stay on top of trending styles and winemaking techniques all while working next to winemakers and judges from around the country and around the world.”