McLaren Vale’s top business women including Melissa Brown, Susie Williams, Pip Forrester

From wining and dining to apps and alterations – women in McLaren Vale are kicking serious business goals. We’ve found the top 10 who are making moves.

McLaren Vale's top businesswomen featuring Gill Gordon-Smith, Bec Hardy and Melissa Brown.

From award-winning winemakers and educators to app developers and restaurateurs, McLaren Vale is rife with inspirational women.

To celebrate their achievements, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 business women in the region.

MELISSA BROWN – GEMTREE WINES

Melissa Brown of Gemtree Wines, McLaren Vale. Picture: supplied

Recently named owner/operator of the year at the Australian Women in Wine Awards, Melissa Brown is helping lead the way in biodynamic practices at the region.

The Gemtree Wines chief viticulturalist and co-owner was originally told she was “too soft” to work in the family vineyard.

“My father was happy to give me a job but he didn’t think I’d last longer than three weeks,” Mrs Brown said.

“It’s safe to say I proved him wrong.”

Working in a male dominated industry hasn’t come without challenges but Mrs Brown has quickly made a name for herself in the sustainability realm of viticulture.

Leading the way in introducing biodynamic practices to vineyards, Mrs Brown’s advice in

biodynamics, organics, sustainability and regenerative farming is well sought after.

MEGAN CALDERSMITH – SHE SEWS

Since picking up a sewing kit at the age of five, fashion designer Megan Caldersmith has never stopped.

Megan Caldersmith of She Sews, McLaren Vale. Picture: supplied

Her McLaren Vale shop – She Sews – specialises in made-to-measure bridal and evening wear as well as all types of alteration.

Since the onset of COVID-19, Ms Caldersmith has starting producing face masks and has sold more than 2000 while donating $1 from each mask to the Hutt St Centre.

“I’m a perfectionist, I spent three days doing 18 hour days perfecting patterns, looking at fabric and deciding the best way to go about it.

“We were flooded with orders.

“I feel really strongly about having a community aspect to the business as well which is why we decided to donate the money too.”

CORRINA WRIGHT – OLIVER’S TARANGA VINEYARDS

Corrina Wright of Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards. Picture: Oliver’s Taranga

With six generations and more than 180 years of family grape growing history behind her, Corrina Wright is no stranger to the wine industry.

The winemaker convinced her grape growing family to allow her to use their premium grapes to make wine and Oliver’s Taranga was born as a result.

Oliver’s Taranga continues to make its own small batch wines while selling to well-known wineries including d’Arenberg, Penfolds, Wirra Wirra and Seppeltsfield.

Meanwhile as an award-winning winemaker, Ms Wright continues to impress with a variety of premium drops while still preserving the Oliver family’s heritage.

SUSIE WILLIAMS – FLEURIEU APP

What started as a hobby for Susie Williams has since turned into a region-wide app with more than 6000 users.

Susie Williams of Fleurieu App. Picture: Supplied

Mrs Williams was instrumental in establishing a local news and sports app while living in the Marlborough region of New Zealand and on her return to SA, a local version – Fleurieu App – was born.

“The locals now know we are here to stay and are getting on board and

listing and advertising their businesses,” she said.

“They also know I live locally and am passionate about regional areas and supporting local business.

“If we don’t use our local shops one day you will walk down the street and those shops will be closed – growing up we saw this too often on the Eyre Peninsula, I refuse to let that happen here.”

BEC HARDY – BEC HARDY WINES

Bec Hardy of Bec Hardy Wines. Picture: Supplied

Despite being the first female vigneron of one of Australia’s oldest wine families, Bec Hardy has paved her own way in the wine industry.

Just this year, Bec Hardy Wines’s own Tipsy Hill 2017 vintage was awarded an almost perfect score by renowned wine critic James Halliday

Ms Hardy said during her viticulture studies at University of Adelaide and later in London around half of students were women, but just 10 per cent of winemakers and viticulturists are women.

“I think one of the hardest things for women in the wine industry is the same as for many other working women: having a family and being able to fit everything in,” she said.

“At Bec Hardy Wines, we recognise the difficulties of balancing family and business, and we offer flexible hours and allow people to work from home some days so that they can do the school run etc. Women shouldn’t have to choose either work or family.”

IRINA SANTIAGO-BROWN – INKWELL WINES

A self proclaimed “midlife convert” and wine fanatic, Irina Santiago-Brown and husband Dudley are the heart of Inkwell Wines.

Irina Santiago-Brown and husband Dudley. Picture: Milton Wordey

Dr Santiago-Brown earned her masters and PhD in sustainability in viticulture and consults on sustainability practices including biodynamic, organic and sustainable grape growing.

She’s a leader in sustainable viticulture on the world stage and at home her own winery farms organically and biologically.

After acquiring the California Road winery in 2003, Dr Santiage-Brown and her husband restored more than six acres of native vegetation and have since seen the return or native birds, insects and animals.

PIP FORRESTER AM – FLEURIEU FOOD, WILLUNGA FARMERS MARKET

Pip Forester, chair of Fleurieu Food and Willunga Farmers Market. Picture: Supplied

Known for her work in the hospitality industry Philippa ‘Pip’ Forester AM has been a longstanding supporter of tourism and hospitality in the region.

During her 16 years of running the Salopian Inn, Ms Forester worked closely with local suppliers and quickly came to realise the importance of support local business and tourism.

“For that reason I began to work with the McLaren Vale wine industry to promote the region as a food and wine tourism destination,” Ms Forester said.

“McLaren Vale has long been recognised as a significant wine region in Australia but the quality and depth of our food product was not as widely understood.”

Ms Forester now chairs Fleurieu Food and the Willunga Farmers’ Market and continues to promote the McLaren Vale region.

“My goal is to promote the region as the perfect place to visit, live and work but my primary concern is to ensure that the world recognises the fabulous food industry that exists in this region,” she said.

“It is full of talented and committed growers and makers who create and supply the quality of produce we need to match the renowned wines of McLaren Vale.”

KARENA ARMSTRONG – SALOPIAN INN

Karena Armstrong, Chef Salopian Inn at Penley Estate wines. Picture: Tom Huntley

Salopian Inn co-owner and chef Karena Armstrong is well-known for her eclectic approach to dining.

With a resume full of some of the biggest and best restaurants in Australia, Ms Armstrong’s culinary skills are recognised far and wide.

Now, her focus on cooking good food with high quality, local and organic ingredients has put the Salopian Inn on the map.

Such is her focus on locally sourced ingredients, the Inn is partly supplied by its own home grown produce from the kitchen garden.

GILL GORDON-SMITH – FALL FROM GRACE

Juggling running her store – Fall From Grace – and running the educator team at TAFE SA, Gill Gordon-Smith still finds time to make her own wine.

Gill Gordon-Smith of Fall from Grace. Picture: Supplied

But Ms Gordon Smith said when working in such an exciting industry it’s hard not to be busy.

“I’m fascinated by it all from grape to glass,” she said.

“The wine community in general is pretty amazing and supportive of each other and the journey to learn more never ends.

“I have always had an inquiring mind, a lot of energy and immense passion for wine and the wine industry in general.”

It’s not hard to see why she was recently named the 2020 Australian Woman of Inspiration at the Women in Wine Awards.

BRIONY HOARE – BEACH ROAD WINES RESTAURANT, CELLAR DOOR AND WINERY

Briony Hoare of Beach Road Wines. Picture: Beach Road Wines

At just 15 years old winemaker Briony Hoare developed an interest in wine that has since led her on a journey throughout Australia and Europe.

Since then, Ms Hoare has earned herself a name as an award-winning winemaker and has launched the ever-popular Beach Road Wines.

What started in the garage of her and husband Tony’s home has transformed into a purpose-built winery producing different and alternative varieties of wine.