This International Women’s Day (March 8), we’re raising a glass to the remarkable women shaping the future of the Great Southern wine industry. From winemaking and viticulture to wine education and business leadership, these trailblazers are not only crafting exceptional drops but also redefining industry norms, overcoming challenges, and sharing their passion with the world.
We had the privilege of speaking with some of the region’s most inspiring women, including Sarah Date, Owner/Director at Duke’s Vineyard.
Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in the wine industry?
A: I married a winemaker. 😊 I wouldn’t say I pursued a career in the wine industry as taking ownership of Duke’s has completely been a result of my relationship with Ben (Cane, husband). While I have always been around wine (my parents are keen on good wine) and have lived in several wine regions around the world, my background is as a Producer in film/media/special events and that career was far more lucrative than wine! However, the pandemic put me into forced retirement so I had time to think about what I wanted to do next. Apparently, that is working in wine…
Q: Can you briefly share your journey to where you are today?
A: Ben and I met in California where we were both living. He is from Sydney but grew up in Adelaide and I used to live in Sydney and Melbourne. We were both ready to return to Australia after several years in the US. He was offered a job as Winemaker at Cape Mentelle in Margaret River, so we relocated there in December 2018. In May 2021, some friends invited us to a weekend in the Great Southern to go wine tasting and meet Duke Ranson whom they knew and loved. On a cold and wet day, we ended up spending over five hours talking to Duke and were informed the vineyard was for sale. We had no plans to buy a vineyard, but one thing led to another and by April 2022 we officially took over from Duke and his wife Hilde who are in their 80s and needed to be out of the business.
Q: What’s the most rewarding part of your role?
A: Showing our beautiful wines to new customers in the cellar door, at wine events and across the world and receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback. Literally, eight out of 10 people who come to our cellar door say, we’ve never heard of Duke’s but a friend/colleague/restaurant owner/retail store assistant/etc. told us we had to visit you and taste your wines when we come to the Porongurup.
Q: Have you faced any challenges as a woman in the wine industry? How have you overcome them?
A: There are moments, especially on the sales side of wine, when it feels very male dominated, which can be irritating, but I see it as a challenge to deliver our story even more effectively when in those situations.
Q: What’s been your proudest achievement so far?
A: Recognising an opportunity to take the reins of a ‘small but mighty’ wine label in an exciting, under-the-radar region and acting upon it while it was still affordable to do so. While it’s an extremely difficult time in the industry, it’s exciting to have a chance to be a part of developing the story of the Great Southern and its premium wines and shape the future.
Q: What advice would you give to women looking to enter the world of wine?
A: Be convinced of your passion, go for it, and be prepared to work incredibly hard. And drink lots of great wine along the way to constantly educate yourself and benchmark your efforts.
Q: What excites you most about the future of wine in the Great Southern?
A: The fact that the Great Southern is an incredibly exciting, under-explored, up-and-coming wine region on the Australian and global stage, and that the wines produced here are of excellent, premium quality that deserve a place among the top labels of the world.
Q: Who are the women that inspire you—within or beyond the wine world?
A: There are many, and for many different reasons! Within the wine world, in Australia, I’d say Vanya Cullen for all her dedication to biodynamics and honouring the land and seasons to create beautiful wines, and for not being apologetic for charging the prices she does for them, because that is what they are worth. In California, I admire Lane Tanner who in 1981 was the first female winemaker and who made awesome, elegant, cool-climate wines, particularly Pinot Noir in Santa Barbara county, having a great time while she did so, winning awards all over the place and being hugely respected by men and women in the business. And she is still making wine today (for Lumen Wines) and still is as colourful as ever.
Outside of the wine industry and in the beginning of my production career, I had the good fortune to be mentored by an amazing woman, Teresa King, who was my boss but also a nurturing figure integral to my career path. Because of her, I know I can successfully translate all my film and event production skills to running a boutique wine label.
Q: What’s your go-to drop for an evening with friends?
A: A beautiful dry Riesling from the Porongurup of course! I also love Champagne.
Q: If you could share a glass of wine with anyone, past or present, who would it be and why?
A: My dad and mum who live on the other side of the world – because they have always appreciated good wine and took my sister and I to France when we were teenagers which was a huge lesson in food and wine appreciation. They also have been instrumentally supportive of our journey of taking over Duke’s even though they can’t visit us here as they can’t travel anymore. They love Australia and visited several times in the 80s, 90s and 2000s.