2KW to celebrate Women in Wine Awards with live stream viewing
CAN’T make it to London for the celebration? Join the party in Adelaide thanks to a live cross.
MORE than 50 Australian women winemakers, half of them from SA, will be in London next week for the announcement of the Australian Women in Wine Awards at Australia House.
If that’s a bit far to get in on the action, King William St top-floor bar 2KW will be streaming the event, so you can cheer on your fellows and favourites in a range of awards from winemaker of the year to researcher, marketer, owner/operator, viticulturist as well as woman of inspiration.
Among those in London are Rebekah Richardson (Irvine Wines), Corrina Wright (Oliver's Taranga Vineyards) and Liz Heidenreich (Sevenhill).
The London setting is the first time the awards have been held overseas, sponsored by peak industry body Wine Australia as part of a larger Women in Wine program where the 57-strong entourage engages with leading UK wine trade in tastings of more than 300 Aussie drops.
It’s the first time the annual Wine Australia program of UK events has showcased women only, culminating in the announcement of the 2017 Australian Women in Wine Awards at Australia House.
More than 25 of the travelling brigade hail from South Australian wine regions while the awards nominations list also is dominated by Adelaide- and SA-based winemakers, cellar door persons, owner operators and scientists.
The awards, under the auspices of wine identity Jane Thomson and her privateer event organisation The Fabulous Ladies’ Wine Society, celebrate the work of women in the Australian wine community and community leaders who champion equality in the industry workplace.
While they have been embraced by the industry’s peak international marketing body Wine Australia, the awards’ female-only focus has caused some pushback from many industry members, including many women who have argued they wish to be recognised for their talent and hard work without a gender bias.
The naysayers disagree with the gender marketing arising from the awards in their three-year history, but the positivity surrounding the awards and the UK program next week has been beneficial to not only the women involved but to the whole wine industry, Jane Thomson says.
“In the short term the power and buzz about the awards in London have been very powerful,” Jane says.
“The awards have done a great job in creating a confidence in the women in our wine community.”
A survey of women in the wine industry by Jane revealed last year that 42 per cent knew or believed they were being paid less than male counterparts.
Two thirds of women replied that they had experienced sexist behaviour in the workplace, and one on four women had endured unfair treatment in regards to pregnancy, sick children or maternity leave.
A quarter of the respondents believed they did not have equal career opportunities in their workplaces.
A key finding revealed just a 10 per cent participation of women working in the industry, while there was close to equal male and female numbers leaving university oenology and viticulture courses.
The awards are an important initiative to highlight the success of women in the wine industry when they were in such a minority, Gemtree Vineyards viticulturist and AWIW awards finalist Melissa Brown said.
2KW’s celebration AIWA Viewing Party will offer a first drink and stand up/party food for $35 from 6pm-9pm on Tuesday, September 26, 2 King William St, tickets at 2kwbar.com.au/upcoming-events