Winemakers are an eclectic bunch, often drawn from different backgrounds and often being the sole woman in their teams.
Historically, women have chosen viticulture and winemaking careers at lower rates than before – however these Yarra Valley winemakers are taking steps to change that trend.
Kate Goodman
Kate Goodman made an abrupt switch from biomedical science studies to winemaking after realizing it wasn’t what she was meant for. Since then she has made quite the name for herself by winning Australian Women in Wine’s “Winemaker of the Year” award 2024 and becoming head winemaker at Penley Estate Coonawarra and owner of Goodman and Nikkal wines in Victoria; earning recognition among Australia’s finest professionals as an industry expert.
Kate shared with us her journey towards becoming an influential force in the wine industry. She has an expansive knowledge of different wine styles and an eye for crafting modern and innovative vintages with true originality. Additionally, we discussed some trends she is observing within Australian wine such as moving away from big, tannic red wines to slimmer white varieties;
Kate works alongside her team at her winery to produce high-quality wines that reflect both the region and her personal style. She employs whole bunch fermentation and minimal intervention in her cellar as she believes these techniques help express varietal characteristics more fully; furthermore she embraces blending as it creates more complex and exciting wines.
As head winemaker of an esteemed Coonawarra winery, Kate oversees all aspects of production – vineyard management, grape growing and harvesting being her primary duties – including marketing and sales efforts for her products.
Kate is an icon among female winemakers globally, and her passion has earned her worldwide respect and admiration. Her winemaking work has been featured on popular shows like Showtime and Impractical Jokers; with millions viewing her work online.
Kate is an outspoken supporter of equal opportunities for women within the wine industry, believing it to be crucial that women feel secure in their roles and not fear pushing boundaries of what they can achieve.
Suzanne Little
Women are slowly making inroads into winemaking roles. Kate Goodman is one of these women, making waves within a male-dominated industry by taking up winemaking in her own unique fashion. In this episode, she shares her journey from vineyard to cellar as well as how she manages a career in wine with life outside the cellar.
Gwyn Olsen of Yarra Valley winemaking fame is another one to watch. Boasting international experience and several medals to her credit, she crafts wines that are both elegant and drinkable while working tirelessly towards gender equality in the wine industry.
Sarah Crowe is the winemaker at Yarra Yering and serves as a mentor for Kate. Born and raised in New Zealand, Sarah came to work at Yarra Yering in 2013 where she has created outstanding wines.
Kate is proud to be part of Yarra Valley Women Winemakers (YVWW). Founded in 2017, YVWW aims to recognize and promote female winemakers in an industry predominantly occupied by men. In addition to winemaking skills, many members are active in areas such as viticulture and marketing.
As we recognize International Women’s Day, we honor some of the world’s finest and most successful female winemakers from across the globe. Here is a selection of them below:
Women in wine are making waves within the industry as a whole, from Laura Catena elevating Pinot Noir to new heights to Rosa Kruger becoming an icon in South Africa and Susana Balbo owning and winning accolades with her winery; all these women are setting an exemplary path forward that can serve as an example and source of motivation to others in wine.
Sarah Crowe
Sarah Crowe has made waves in the wine industry. A true “triple threat”, Sarah is renowned as a viticulturist, winemaker and general manager at Yarra Yering Winery; over time she has helped transform it into one which is known for its Pinot Noir wines both nationally and internationally.
Sarah immediately stands out with her infectious passion and energy for life, shaped by both good and bad experiences in her journey so far. Beginning as an assistant winemaker at Broken Wood in Hunter Valley before embarking on studies of Viticulture at Charles Sturt University.
Soon, she found success, becoming the winemaker at Yarra Yering in 2015. There, she quickly made an impactful statement as James Halliday called her out as having exceptional talent; additionally she received numerous accolades such as winning Winemaker of the Year at Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology Awards in 2017.
Sarah’s mesmerizing wines are the result of her in-depth understanding of vineyard and what each site can provide, along with an unwavering pursuit of quality, meticulous eye for detail, and exquisite palate that enables her to craft modern wines of exceptional quality. Sarah has been recognized for her commitment and hard work by being recognized with the 2021 Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the Year award.
Sarah finds the deep-seated boy’s club mentality of winemaking disappointing and hopes that her creation of Yarra Valley Wine Women can create a more inclusive environment for female winemakers. Sarah encourages other young women to pursue careers in agriculture – it’s rewarding and exhilarating industry!
Helen & Joey Estate
Helen and Joey Estate is a family run winery founded in 2010 at the foot of Warramate Range in Yarra Valley. As you head down its long driveway of vine-laden driveways you will reach their spacious cellar door deck which boasts amazing views across acres upon acres of undulating vineyard. Their wines include both classic Yarra Valley varieties as well as more unique styles such as natural and vineyard focused wines; along with iconic unicorn statue, Bruce, Helen & Joey Estate has quickly become one of the area’s most recognisable vineyards!
Meg Brodtmann, winemaker behind Helen & Joey brand, boasts over two decades of knowledge and experience across three continents. This can be seen through her wines that often exhibit natural elements with minimal intervention methods – Meg is committed to crafting wines with natural expression that capture the place they come from, becoming an ambassador for Australian wine worldwide.
Kate Goodman is an industry powerhouse, winning Australia’s Women in Wine award in 2018. A respected winemaker from both South Australia and Victoria, Kate currently works at Penley Estate as Head Winemaker while also owning/Director/Winemaker of Goodman Wines (Yarra Valley). Additionally she boasts numerous awards from across both states!
Be you male or female, it is inspiring to witness so many women winemakers making waves in the industry. From different backgrounds and with unique paths in wine making, all share an enormous passion for their chosen field and put forth their best effort. These women winemakers deserve our congratulations as strong and talented winemakers!