Australian Women in Wine (AWIW) has re-released a second batch of its gin, hear me roar, which gives 100 per cent of its profits to assist women to flourish and succeed in the wine industry.
Released in 2022, the first batch was a sell out success, and this newest release is available for sale via the AWIW website.
The brand name references Helen Reddy’s iconic 1971 song and its subsequent use as a cry for change. As with the hear me roar Shiraz released by AWIW in 2019 and the first batch of hear me roar gin, all proceeds from the sale of this gin will go towards programs and professional development for women in the Australian wine industry.
Gender disparity is a serious concern in the wine industry, with women making up just 30 per cent of professionals across all areas of the industry. In senior levels, this drops to less than 10 per cent, and production roles such as winemaking sit at 17 per cent.
Potential recipes were submitted by women across the wine industry, with the final ingredients determined by vote. The 2023 hear me roar gin is infused with blackcurrant leaf, native finger line, and Tasmanian pepperberry, following a suggestion from Tracy Taylor of Tasmania’s Southwood Vineyards.
The gin has been made by Rebekah Richardson, winemaker, AWIWA Board member, and owner/distiller of Lucid Distilling. Richardson expressed her excitement about making the gin.
“We have been absolutely blown away by the wine industry support of the hear me roar project. The gin was a bit left of centre given we are women in wine, but we know most of us love a good gin and it has been nice to do something a bit different. We’ve brought it back by popular demand,” she said.
The entire hear me roar project has been supported by industry donations from companies such as Denomination Design, Saverglass, Closure Pak, CCL, Lucid Distilling and The Fabulous Ladies’ Wine Society.