Four female winemakers in Australia collaborate on their own wine label

Four of Australia’s most prominent female winemakers have joined forced to create a Shiraz label helping to promote other women in the industry.

hear me roar — a wine made from Shiraz grapes harvested in Southern Australian regions Eden Valley, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale & Coonawarra — is the fruit of a collaboration between Sue Hodder of Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Emma Norbiato from Calabria Family Wines, Irvine Wines’ Rebekah Richardson, and Corrina Wright of Oliver’s Taranga. Proceeds from its sale will go towards scholarships and mentoring programs and professional development for women in the Australian wine industry. Hopeful candidates will be able to register for the courses in June this year.

The wine, which is spearheaded by the Australian Women in Wine Awards, (AWIWA) will be released on Thursday 21 February. Orders, which are being managed through Irvine Wines’ online shop, will be limited to six bottles per purchase.

“Hear me roar” is a reference to the song I am Woman by Australian singer Helen Reddy, which was released in 1971.

“This is an exciting next stage in the way we are able to support Australian women in wine,” Jane Thomson, founder and chair of the AWIWA, said.

“While the awards continue to provide an important platform to champion the success of women, we also recognise that more action is needed to retain women in all roles of the industry at greater levels.

“Releasing this wine is a means of generating the funding we need to make that happen.”