The finalists in the 2017 Australian Women in Wine Awards (AWIWA) were announced last week, with two prominent names in the Margaret River wine industry receiving places on the shortlist.
Vasse Felix chief winemaker Virginia Willcock is one of three finalists in the Winemaker of the Year award, while Voyager Estate Cellar Door Manager Janine Carter is a finalist in the Cellar Door Person of the Year category.
The awards list increased this year to eight categories from 2016’s six and AWIWA board member Corrina Wright said the shortlist was “incredibly difficult” this time around.
“Judging was incredibly difficult,” said Ms Wright.
“There is just so much talent across the width and breadth of Australia’s wine regions, so many women really pushing the boundaries and achieving world class results.”
Awards founder and chair Jane Thomson said she was thrilled to see that the awards were attracting entrants in ever greater numbers.
“One of the great challenges with these awards is that so often women are reticent to talk themselves up,” she said.
“Too often we hear ‘but I’m just doing my job’ when in fact what they’re doing is extraordinary!
“This year, the number and quality of entries was incredible and all our judges were really stretched. And we absolutely loved every minute of it!”
The eighth award category, Woman of Inspiration Award is a judges choice award. No entry was required and the recipient will be announced at the ceremony on 26 September.
The 2017 awards were judged by panels made up of AWIWA Advisory board members as well as previous winners.
This year the awards will be announced at a ceremony at Australia House in London.
The ceremony will form part of a ‘Women in Wine’ tasting event for trade and consumers in which nearly 60 Australian women in wine will travel to participate.
