Wine Australia is continuing its dedication to the celebration of diversity and innovation by sponsoring the Viticulturist of the Year category in the Australian Women in Wine Awards that were held in New York City on 17 September 2019.
This award recognises women who are passionate about wine at one of its most crucial state of being – on the vine. It was with great pleasure that Wine Australia GM Corporate Affairs Kate Harvey was able to award the Viticulturist of the Year to Sheridan Alm.
Sheridan is involved with the strategic direction and management of the Starrs Reach Vineyard portfolio, one of the larger in the Riverland region of South Australia. Alongside her husband Craig, 6000 tonnes of premium style wine grapes are produced over 250 hectares of vineyard. Starrs Reach Vineyard is a wine grape grower and wine producer of scale, producing premium quality fruit and wine to specification.
‘It was a great honour to be selected as a finalist in the Australian Women in Wine Awards. Winning the Viticulturist of the Year category is about acknowledging that great wine does begin in the vineyard and that a region like the Riverland plays an important role in adding value to the clean and green, wide open spaces and blue sky stories that come with Australian Wine.’ Alm commented on the win.
Sheridan is a skilled viticulturalist with an integrated pest management focus and as former Chair and current Deputy Chair of the Riverland Winegrape Growers Association believes in empowering growers with a strong voice and better business tools. Sheridan is a graduate of the Future Leaders wine industry program and the Riverland representative to the Wine Grape Council of South Australia.
‘Our responsible use of natural resources and adoption of precision technology to produce wine grapes on a broad acre scale only strengthens Australia’s market position globally as a producer of popular premium wine at every day price points,’ she continued.
The Australian Women in Wine Awards ceremony coincided with the launch of Far From Ordinary: Aussie Wine Month, which brought Australian wineries across the globe for the largest Australian wine promotion ever held in the USA. These activities have been made possible by the Australian Government’s $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package.
