Women in Wine to meet for first time

COME JOIN US: The first meeting in Gisborne of the new national organisation Women in Wine will be held next Wednesday evening at Matawhero Wines. Priscila Muir (left) from Indevin and Matawhero Wines owner/general manager Kirsten Searle hope for a big turnout of women from across the wine industry. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

The new national Women in Wine organisation will hold its first Gisborne meeting next week and the organisers hope to attract a big turnout of women involved in all aspects of the wine industry.

A key driver for establishing Women in Wine nationally in August last year was the lack of women putting their names forward for the 2016 New Zealand Winegrowers Board elections.

“It was not expected given the large number of capable, commercially astute women involved in wine businesses, who would add value to the industry as directors of our national association,” said national-co-ordinator Nicky Grandorge.

She will be in attendance in Gisborne.

“New Zealand Winegrowers is keen to support women in the industry and encourage more to take up roles of leadership and governance, so when the idea of forming Women in Wine NZ was suggested last year, it was approved and supported.

“Women in Wine is the start of something very exciting which could in time become huge,” she said.

“It will perhaps challenge the industry to think about how businesses are run and that maybe through increased diversity, the industry can become even stronger.”

The Women in Wine motto is: connect, inform and change.

“Our goal is to promote and facilitate the participation and success of women in the New Zealand wine industry.

“We want to make connections, provide information and drive change that encourages wine industry commitment to the support and advancement of womens’ careers.”

The national committee includes a representative from each region and in Gisborne that regional representative is Kirsten Searle, owner and general manager of Matawhero Winery.

“It is great to be involved in this initiative and as a region we have many talented women working in all areas of the wine industry, so this represents a great opportunity for us to network and learn from other’s experiences,” Mrs Searle said.

Priscila Muir, who is quality assurance manager for Indevin in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, has been selected as one of eight Women in Wine mentors nationwide.

The mentoring programme will run for six months with the aim of continuing next year.

“It is a great initiative to be involved in,” Mrs Muir said.

“We need to promote all areas of the wine industry and my selection as the only mentor with a quality assurance background highlights that.

“For the next six months my mentee and I will work together in developing and maximising her talents and abilities to their fullest.

“My mentee won the North Island Young Winemaker 2018 last weekend, a great achievement that will take her to the NZ Young Winemaker of the Year final at the end of August.

“I believe if you go through life with the perspective that you have something to learn from everyone you meet, it is a two-way experience and we both will benefit from this relationship.

“It would be great to see Gisborne women applying to the next mentoring programme coming up in January as either mentees or mentors.”

Mrs Muir has worked in the wine industry since 2003.

“It is stimulating to inspire, guide and support someone on their journey. I feel privileged to have been selected as a mentor together with seven other experienced women from around the country.”

The first official Women in Wine meeting will be held at Matawhero Wines next Wednesday at 5.30pm.

“Everyone is welcome,” Mrs Searle said.

“The meeting is open to all women not only from wineries and vineyards, but hospitality, tourism and education. Anything that is connected to the wine industry.”

n Please rsvp via email by Monday to: kirsten@matawhero.co.nz

Caption.

COME JOIN US: The first meeting in Gisborne of the new national organisation “Women in Wine” will be held next Wednesday evening at Matawhero Wines. Priscila Muir(left) from Indevin and Matawhero Wines owner and general manager Kirsten Searle hope for a big turnout of women right across the wine industry. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell