Subscriber login Close [x]
remember me
You are not logged in.

World’s largest gathering of Aussie Women in Wine to descend on London

Published:  29 August, 2017

Wine Australia’s Women in Wine event on 26 September will see some 57 female winemakers and winery owners on hand at Australia House in London for an event that aims to help drive perception of premium Aussie wines and bring new wines to market.

The Women in Wine programme, which draws upon the third annual Australian Women in Wine Awards, represents a first foray overseas for winners of and participants in the event, looking to provide a showcase for both successful women in the industry and the wines they craft back home.

 With 18 Australian regions to be represented at the event, with winemakers ranging from log-established names such as Louisa Rose at Yalumba and Virginia Willcock at Vasse Felix to new pioneers including Louise Mack of Aphelion Wines, there will be over 300 wines on show, from the breadth of Australia’s diverse winemaking scene.

Of particular interest on the commercial front is that 25 of those wineries showing at the event will be seeking representation in the UK, which along with the London location for the outing is designed to help reinforce the perception of Australia’s commitment to the British market.

Speaking to Harpers, Laura Jewell MW, Wine Australia’s director for UK and Ireland, outlined that while Women in Wine is primarily a celebration of the good and the great in the Australian industry, it also forms part of the ongoing programme to help position Australia in a more premium light in the UK.

“People have really picked up on the theme and really get what we are doing and why we are doing it; we have been overwhelmed by the response,” said Jewell.

“There will be a seminar which focuses on women in the UK wine trade, with a panel including Christine Parkinson of Hakkasan, Luciann Flynn from Liberty, Ruth Yates of Corks Out and Ian Harris of the WSET (in a skirt) as a token man, plus myself.

“But there will also be 25 wineries not currently represented in the UK, that have decided this is a big opportunity to come over and dip their toe in the water and see of they can find opportunities for distribution, so there is a serious commercial element too and we have contacted buyers.”

Jewell says that she has been “amazed” by how many Australia wineries “are still looking for distribution in the market since June of the past year” post the Brexit vote and subsequent plunge in value of sterling, adding that despite big export growth to China and a “USA poised to explode” the UK is still seen as a premium shop window by Aussie winemakers.

Wine Australia is focused on driving up premium Australian sales in the UK and while the UK remains the largest importer of Australian wines by volume, a recent FX-related volume dip through 2017 has in part been countered by growth in premium sales.

The Women in Wine event, including the reveal of eight winners in categories such as Winemaker of the Year and researcher of the year, will be streamed for a global audience from Australia House in London on Tuesday 26 September at 10am in the UK

UK attendees and participants in the event have been drawn from a carefully curated list of invites. For more information, visit: https://www.wineaustralia.com

Keywords: