INTERVIEW WITH
Congratulations on winning Winemaker of the Year for 2018. What does the award mean to you?
It’s heartwarming to be recognised by [my] industry for the work that I do. It goes beyond just wine quality, by recognising industry involvement too. I’m proud and honoured to have received this award. It reinforces that you don’t need to be the loudest voice in the room to be recognised. I hope these awards show younger women entering the wine industry that there are pathways for them to follow.
What have you loved most about your winemaking journey to date?
I have lived in some beautiful places, met wonderful people, and been able to travel and work around the world. I have without doubt made the correct career choice.
What inspired you to establish your own winery in 2012?
I had my son in 2010 and quickly realised that for the life I wanted, I needed more flexibility. My own business provided this. In addition, I had worked at my previous employer for over 10 years, and honestly it was a little stale, creatively. Goodman Wines gave me a new challenge to pursue the wines I wanted. So, in three words: flexibility, freedom and creativity.
What is your winemaking philosophy?
The vineyard is critical to great wine. I want my wines to smell, taste and feel good – expressing time, place and variety. I tend to operate with a handsoff philosophy, which means I support the grapes [but] don’t do too much to interfere with the natural expression of the fruit.
Can you tell us about your Vermentino and Negroamaro wine varieties?
Vermentino and Negroamaro are grape varieties native to Italy. From a growing perspective, they enjoy the heat and don’t need a lot of water. From an environmental perspective, THE CHI EF WI NEMAKER FOR PENLEY ESTATE, AND OWNER OF GOODMAN WINES I N THE YARRA VALLEY, KATE GOODMAN WON WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR AT THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN IN WINE AWARDS 2018. WE CHAT TO HER ABOUT WORK, S UCCESS , AND ALL THINGS V INO.
this makes total sense to me as our climate warms up. The Goodman Vermentino is a delicious savoury white wine, with whispers of the sea in its flavour profile. It’s perfect for the Australian summer. Negroamaro is more seductive, ethereal with a hint of spice – an exotic medium-bodied red wine. It is great to experiment with these alternative varieties.
What are the things you love and loathe about the Yarra Valley?
The Yarra Valley is a visually stunning region, with incredible forests, varied landscapes and waterways. And there is a creative and active food and wine scene. The only thing I dislike about the Yarra is its distance from the ocean. If I could put my feet in the sea every day, life would be complete!
What’s your experience of being a female winemaker in Australia?
I have worked with some wonderful male mentors throughout my career, and I don’t feel gender has ever been an issue for me. There were, however, times when I felt the need to work harder than my male colleagues to be taken seriously. This can be a tough industry for anyone – it’s physical and dirty work most of the time. But there is an active and strong community of women who make it easy to share and learn, and acknowledge the challenges we face together.
What wine (or wines) would you like everyone to try, and why?
This is a tough question, as there are different wines for different occasions. If I had a plate of oysters and prawns sitting in front of me, I would be reaching for the Goodman Vermentino – they’re natural partners. But for a touch of the classics, I would love wine drinkers to experience my Goodman Cabernet Sauvignon. Yarra Valley cabernet is medium-bodied and fragrant, with the ability to age. They are delicious as young wines but will also stand the test of time.