Tread Softly walks the walk for female winemakers

Tread Softly Wines, one of Australia’s highest-profile sustainability-driven wine brands, has launched a Next Generation Winemaking Rising Star Program, an initiative designed to empower the next wave of female winemaking talent.

The year-long program offers one rising female winemaker the chance to work alongside some of Australia’s top mentors, develop their own signature wine, and gain end-to-end exposure across production, marketing, and global trade and consumer engagement.

Known for is eco-friendly practices and lighter wines, Tread Softly's new initiative has been designed to empower emerging winemakers to continue progressing in sustainable winemaking and nurture a greener future for generations to follow.

Applications are now open for the program and close on July 11.

Tread Softly says it has a mission to incorporate social responsibility by supporting emerging winemakers.

“Our goal with the Next Generation Winemaking Rising Star Program is to champion up-and-coming female winemakers to leave their mark on the industry," said Indeya Passfield, Tread Softly global marketing manager and program mentor.

"Tread Softly is more than a wine brand - it’s a movement. By employing efficient production practices and planting over two million trees, we’ve been working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and give back to the land.

"Now, we are expanding our mission to give back to the wine world by investing in its future leaders.”

Submissions will be judged on creativity, authenticity, and sustainability, with the most compelling entry selected for the program.

Tread Softly is a brand of Fourth Wave Wines. See www.treadsoftly.com/nextgeneration.

Opera House to host International Women's Day events

Sydney Opera House will host a pair of events to mark International Women’s Day 2025.

The Trippas White Group will run The Pairing of Power: Women Revolutionising Food & Wine and Table Talk: All About Women Dinner.

These events, hosted within the iconic venue on March 8 and 9, will honour the creativity, resilience, and achievements of trailblazing women in food and wine.

Petra Orrenius, Chief Marketing Officer, Trippas White Group, said: “We are immensely proud to host these two exceptional events celebrating International Women’s Day at Sydney Opera House. 

"Both The Pairing of Power and Table Talk showcase the extraordinary talent and creativity of women in the food and wine industries.

"We hope these events not only highlight their achievements but also foster a sense of community and purpose, offering attendees the opportunity to experience extraordinary wines, delicious food, and breathtaking views while supporting causes that drive meaningful change.”

The Pairing of Power gathering will features a line-up of 15 female winemakers and industry innovators from across Australia. The ticketed event will see guests enjoy wine tastings from all 15 while enjoying live music, and canapes curated by the culinary director of the Opera House event venues, Danielle Alvarez.

Tickets are priced at $99, with a portion of proceeds supporting the Women and Revolution, an organisation that works to overcome barriers to gender equality in the wine industry.

Star power includes Nadja Wallington (ChaLou Estate), Kathleen Quealy (Quealy Wines), Gwyn Olsen (Henschke) and Corrina Wright (Oliver’s Taranga).

Tickets here: https://trippaswhitegroup.com.au/whats-on/international-womans-day/

Table Talk offers just 20 guests the rare opportunity to enjoy a three-course dinner with wine pairings curated by Alvarez, and sixth-generation member of the Henschke wine family, Justine Henschke.

See https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/experiences/all-about-women-dinner

New release to honour female winemaking pioneer

When you have been in the wine business for over a century, you have plenty of stories to tell. 

Iconic Australian winery McWilliam’s Wines this week announced a new wine will honour the family’s first female vineyard manager and winemaker, second-generation Eliza Jane McWilliam, with a special release shiraz, to be unveiled this month. 

The 2018 Eliza Jane Canberra District Shiraz celebrates Eliza Jane, who, in 1902, managed the family’s Sunnyside vineyard and winery operations after the passing of her father, Samuel McWilliam. 

The wine will be the top shiraz offering in the McWilliam’s Wines portfolio. 

“Eliza was the eldest daughter of nine children to Samuel and Martha McWilliam - that in itself came with tremendous responsibility,” said sixth-generation family member and McWilliam’s global brand ambassador Scott McWilliam. 

“While John James, her younger brother, was responsible for bringing the McWillam family to Griffith, it was Eliza who returned to Sunnyside Vineyard in Corowa when Samuel died in 1902. 

"She and her two sisters took to running Sunnyside for two solid years before it was sold off.

“She even won first place in the Sweet White Wine category at the Corowa Agricultural Show with her first vintage release in 1904. 

"I dare say she would likely be Australia’s first female winemaker, if not one of the most successful female winemakers of her time.”

The wine chosen is made from fruit grown at the Quarry Hill Vineyard, just south of Murrumbateman in the Canberra district. 

It is described as "a small, dramatic amphitheatre-like vineyard with very thin soils primarily composed of granite."

The fruit was hand-picked in the early morning, then transported to the Hanwood winery in Griffith, where it was cool stored overnight before processing the next morning. 

The winemaking saw 50% whole clusters included in the open fermenter for lifted aromatics. 

The juice was fermented for 14 days on skins and the wine was pressed off and transferred to French oak puncheons for 10 months on fine lees. 

Just 25% new oak was used, with the remainder second and third fill. 

I'm told a bottle is on the way, so will update with my tasting notes. 

“This is a modern, cool climate, shiraz. It is beautifully concentrated and fresh," McWilliam said. "I can’t think of a better wine to honour someone so prominent in our family tree.” 

The bottle is labelled with Eliza Jane’s name and signature and will be available through wine retailers and McWilliam’s online cellar door for $100.

See www.mcwilliams.com.au.