Entries for the 2017 Australian Women in Wine Awards close on 1st August, meaning there’s just under one month to go to enter one of the 8 awards on offer this year! And the eyes of the global wine community are on us.
As well as the categories of Winemaker (sponsored by WineArk), Viticulturist (sponsored by Wine Australia) & Owner/Operator (sponsored by JancisRobinson.com), the awards also shine a spotlight on the roles of Researcher, Cellar Door Person (sponsored by Platinum Bags), Champion of Change (sponsored by the Winemakers Federation of Australia) and, for the first time this year, Marketer (sponsored by Brown Brothers). The other new award for 2017, the Woman of Inspiration Award (sponsored by Irvine Wines), requires no entry process and will be a judges choice.
Dr Roberta De Bei & Dr Cassandra Collins, joint Winners of the 2016 Researcher of the Year say that winning the award last year is not only an important achievement for their own career, but also for inspiring the next generation of women coming into the industry. “Winning the award in 2016 was a great recognition that as women in science we are making a difference to the wine industry, which is the focus of our research activity. We hope that winning the award provides a positive role model for our female graduates at the University of Adelaide and inspires them to pursue their career goals”.
The Workplace Champion Of Change Award is the only award open to both women AND men, and recognises those who have provided outstanding support and advocacy for women in the industry and/or have been instrumental in implementing female friendly work practices.
Last year’s winner, Iain Riggs of Brokenwood Wines in the Hunter Valley, says that his win was a great reward for all the staff. “Being a business that is two-thirds female across all levels, we’re breaking down the stereotype of wine having to be a male only industry.
As the world’s only awards platform for women in wine, there is significant global interest in the Australian Women in Wine Awards 2017. Such interest is reflected in the fact that JancisRobinson.com has come on board as an award sponsor this year. She joins other local big-name supporters who are also new sponsors for 2017 including Qantas EpiQure and the CSIRO.
Entries for the awards will close on 1st August and finalists in each category will be announced on 22 August. The winners will be announced on 26 September as part of a grand Women in Wine celebration and tasting event in partnership with Wine Australia, at Australia House in London. The awards will be streamed live via the web all over the world.
Gold Partners this year include Tonnellerie Saint Martin, Pernod-Ricard Winemakers, Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch and Wine Business Magazine.
