There are not many positive messages resulting from the coronavirus pandemic except for the gathering of communities and increased support of each other echoing the “We’re all in this together” catch cry of the Australian Government. Heathcote is also not immune to the rising of community spirit with the Heathcote Women in Wine as one such example.
The concept was derived from Sanguine Estate’s launch into Virtual wine tastings via Facebook Live and Zoom sessions since the closure of it’s cellar door and the need to connect with customers in a new way. Starting initially with their own wines quickly grew into a more regional approach with an invitation to other Heathcote winemakers to join them in celebrating the Heathcote wine region and it’s vast array of winemaker philosophies and family stories.
It was following a session titled “Four Brands of Heathcote” that Jodi Marsh (Sanguine Estate) spoke with Tracie Young (Silver Spoon Estate) about celebrating the many roles that women play in the Heathcote wine region and so the idea of “Heathcote Women in Wine” was born and the first two virtual wine tasting sessions were scheduled with 6 Heathcote women involved from varying backgrounds. Mixed wine packs of each other’s wines were soon released based on the women choosing a wine in their range that was close to their hearts and interestingly resulted in a different variety chosen by each further emphasising Heathcote’s diversity from the recognised and celebrated highly awarded Shiraz to the plethora of new wave Italian, French and Spanish varietals gaining a lot of attention among wine judges.
With the sharing of content and a collaborative approach to marketing, Part 1 of Heathcote Women in Wine has so far achieved 1,300 views on Sanguine Estate’s facebook page and Part 2 has achieved 874 views.
Upon the sudden news of cellar doors being allowed to open by the Andrews government, five of the women (one does not have a cellar door yet) morphed their collaboration from the virtual world into bricks and mortar and the all important tourism that regions rely upon. As it happened and not by initial design the 5 cellar doors are in close proximity to each other and with four cellar doors ready to go (the fifth cellar door will be reopening later in the year due to their small size), they shared their understandings and ideas around the strict covid19 cellar door requirements, investigated and developed a shared booking system, co-ordinated their booking times, developed a simple touring map and cross promoted each other’s cellar doors on the basis that similar covid19 practices are in place at each and you could visit all easily in one day with the furthest wineries only 10minutes apart. And so the Heathcote Women in Wine – Cellar Door Trail was borne and comprises Sanguine Estate, Munari Wines, Vinea Marson and Silver Spoon Estate with Armstead Estate joining the trail later in the year.
“Not only has the coronavirus instilled a strong sense of community spirit among us but in our case developed some lifelong business associations and friendships. I have absolutely loved working with these women who are like minded, energetic, innovative, entrepreneurial and just great human beings” states Jodi Marsh.
What’s next on their agenda? Preliminary discussions have been had about hitting the road and touring together (including the sixth member Farmer & The Scientist) to not only promote themselves but also to promote visiting the Heathcote region.