Once dominated by the “beefsteak and burgundy boys’ club”, the world of wine has discovered its feminine side.

Women employed in wine manufacturing rose to 38 per cent in the latest census data, 10 per cent more than the average across all manufacturing sectors. It’s a timely shift, according to Rachel Triggs, general manager of corporate affairs and regulation at Wine Australia, and one that will ultimately lead to a better drop.

“Females have great palates and a lot more women are drinking wine and experimenting with different wines,” Triggs says. “More women are making wines that other women want to drink – they’re playing around with varieties and making subtle, delicate choices with their blends.”

No longer fixated on appeasing what Triggs describes as the “beefsteak and burgundy boys’ club”, more winemakers are focusing on lighter styles such as rose and sparkling varieties.

“We’re seeing more wines that suit the palates of women,” she says.

SHAKING IT UP
Fresh faces are also bringing a new approach and perspective to the industry, says Olivia Magdziarz, known as “Liv Zak”, the winemaker behind her eponymous label and vigneron at Warramunda Estate in the Yarra Valley.

The 27-year-old bottled her first vintage at age 16, and believes it’s prime time to shift away from highbrow conventions towards a more taste-led appreciation of wine.

“Wine is there for enjoyment – it isn’t meant to be a crazy masterpiece you write a thesis on.”

With winemaking sometimes described as the canary in the coalmine for climate change, fresh perspectives are more important than ever. As harvest dates creep forward and weather patterns become more volatile, the ability to adapt and cater to the growing public appetite for sustainably produced wines is key.

In her own vines, Zac promotes beneficial insects, such as spiders, in favour of pesticides, and sows crops such as oats between the vines to control weeds and nourish the soil.

BRAIN OVER BRAWN
The labour-intensive nature of viticulture and winemaking has traditionally been a factor holding women back from the top jobs.

However, advances in tools and technology help, says Triggs, lessening the need for brute strength. Her light bulb moment came when she was trying to wrestle a steel hose of a tank.

“My hands just weren’t strong enough, but my boss handed me a spanner, and taught me how to work smarter, not harder.”

FILLING CUPS
In an industry requiring weeks of 12 hour-plus shifts during the vintage period, and women shouldering the bulk of parenting, Triggs says the hours can be prohibitive. There is, however, a camaraderie among female winemakers.

“There are some amazing, inspirational women that have braved through it and forged a way for us. The industry has become more accepting of women,” Zak says.

RAISE A GLASS
The Exceptional Winemaking Dozen, available through Qantas Wine, shines a light on the talented women in the Australian wine industry. The depth and diversity of wine styles in this dozen is testimony to the powerhouses they are. It includes Liz Jackson’s Hunter Valley fruit-driven fiano, Liv Zak’s sophisticated Yarra Valley chardonnay and syrah and Kate Morgan’s juicy choc-cherry Margaret River malbec, among others.