South Australians scooped the pool and two McLaren Vale women were among the winners at the 2020 Australian Women in Wine Awards.

The awards were announced in an online ceremony hosted by comedian Merrick Watts and broadcast from Sydney on 24 November.

Melissa Brown on Gemtree Wines took out the award for Owner / Operator of the Year, while wine educator and communicator Gill Gordon-Smith won the Woman of Inspiration award.

Australian Women in Wine Awards founder and chair Jane Thomson says that while it has been a tough year for all, the calibre of the winners demonstrates an incredible breadth and depth of female talent in the wine industry.

“I’m so overjoyed that were able to keep the awards going this year, and that we could deliver an online event that brought the industry together in celebration. 

“These awards continue to each year uncover even more amazing stories of achievement – and resilience – by women in the Australian wine industry. Congratulations to each and every one of them!”

As chief viticulturist and co-owner of Gemtree Wines, Melissa Brown oversees many components of the day-to-day running of the winery as well as fostering the regenerative agriculture philosophies of Gemtree. 

Melissa is a third generation McLaren Vale grape grower and along with her winemaker husband Mike, is the current custodian of the land she is entrusted with. 

She is a firm believer of passing the land to the next generation in a better condition than it was handed to her.

From introducing and leading the biodynamic practices in the vineyard to developing the Gemtree Ecotrail, which involved planting thousands of native trees and shrubs on the property, Melissa is a leader in her field and is sought after for advice and counsel on biodynamics, organics, sustainability and regenerative farming.

The Woman of Inspiration award recognises a woman whose contribution and achievement has had a significant impact on the Australian wine community. 

Accepting her award, Fall From Grace founder Gill Gordon Smith called for more diversity and inclusion in the wine industry.

“I want to see different faces and hear new voices and this can only be achieved by recognising our earned and unearned privilege. And using this to amplify other women’s voices.

“I want more women in the room and I want practical and thoughtful solutions to solve issues.

“It would be amazing if we didn’t need women-only awards, but obviously we’re still not there. And I’m fed up. Action is required.”

The 2020 AWIWA winners are:

Winemaker of the Year – sponsored by Tonnellerie Saint Martin 

Cate Looney, Brown Family Wine Group, Vic

Champion of Diversity & Equality – sponsored by Australian Grape and Wine 

Helen Strachan, Pernod Ricard Winemakers, SA

Marketer of the Year – sponsored by denomination 

Trish Barry, Mastermind Consulting, NSW

Cellar Door Person of the Year – sponsored by Langton’s

Jess Greatwich, Krondorf Creek Farm, SA

Viticulturist of the Year – sponsored by Wine Australia 

Catherine Kidman, Wynns Coonawarra, SA 

Owner / Operator of the Year – sponsored by Bacchus Academy 

Melissa Brown, Gemtree Wines, SA 

Woman of Inspiration Award 

Gill Gordon-Smith