Into The Vines: Cheers To Women in Wine

Into The Vines is coming to Sydney! 

Melbourne's sell-out midweek wine-tasting event Into The Vines is coming to Sydney in March to celebrate women in wine. 

Get your Easter long weekend started early by joining other winos at Freshwater Brewing Co in Brookvale on Wednesday 27th March and taste small-batch wines directly from their female makers. Bring your mates, dates and pups (Freshie is a dog-friendly venue) – or just come by yourself! 

Through Humanatix, we’ve also nominated Girls Boardrider Fraternity as the organisation you can donate to when you purchase your ticket - which is a local non-profit that encourages girls and women to get out in the ocean.

Wineries & Tastings:

For just $15, you'll be able to try over 25 small-batch wines from five exceptional wineries, including Krinklewood (Hunter Valley, NSW), Empire of Dirt (Geelong, VIC) Becker Wines (Hunter Valley, NSW), Comyns & Co (Hunter Valley, NSW) and Intrepidus Wines (Yass, ACT).

We’ve structured it so it’s a wine tour in a large expansive space (thanks Freshie!) - with the chance to discover new varietals and blends of wines made in family-owned, small-batch wineries, and special offers on take-home bottles on the night (usually something you can only experience regionally, or in trade tastings).

What's the gist?

After working with smaller wineries across Victoria and knowing how hard it can be to get city-based wine lovers into regional towns, our drinks agency Tracado thought we'd start bringing the makers to them. Now with six banging events under our belt, we wanted to share the fun with Sydney-siders and have rounded up five epic female winemakers for wine novices, aficionados and everyone in between to discover. 

The wine industry has seen a real shake-up in recent years, with more women working in the typically male-dominant industry than ever. While we still have a way to go, we wanted to honour International Women's Day and the incredible female winemakers who are producing exceptional (and innovative) wines during our first-ever Sydney event. 

And to all the lads - this isn't just an event for the gals. Even if you're not the biggest wine drinker, the team at Freshie Brewing will keep you occupied and satisfied with their ever-growing range of crisp lagers, ales and pilsners. 

Fresh New Food Menu & Dinner Deals:

Freshwater Brewing Co will also be offering fresh dishes from their newly updated menu - think authentic Tacos, hearty burgers, crunchy salads and more - as well as a $25 burger and pint deal and exclusive snack packs to treat yourself to before or after your tastings. You can pre-order your burger deal or snack pack along with your ticket, or you can order directly from the full menu on the night. 

Ticket holders will also have the chance to cleanse their palate in between tastings with a complimentary grazing board that's included in the ticket price. 

About Empire of Dirt:

Tash Webster is the founder and winemaker of the Moorabool Valley-based label Empire Wines (previously Empire of Dirt Wines). She gained experience working in many wineries and vineyards across Geelong's three sub-regions (as well as her hometown of Orange, NSW) while completing her CSU winemaking degree as Dux and with distinction. Having failed with her first business attempt (always a good life lesson) she now makes boutique wines that represent the Geelong region. Tash was a finalist in the 2020 Young Guns of Wine Awards and has been a judge in both regional, state, and national Wine shows.

“My love of music and pop culture heavily influences the names of the labels. You’ll always find the speakers blaring in the winery when I’m working, or when at home cooking, gardening, or sitting by the fire pit. I’m a strong believer in letting the wines speak for themselves rather than forcing a style that screams me, so I’m minimal intervention as much as possible." 

Webster makes a vintage sparkling, citrussy Bellarine chardonnay and a gamay and shiraz that are built to highlight the power and flesh the Moorabool Valley can bestow on red wines.

She also fittingly has released a 2023 "F*ck The Patriarchy" Pinot Noir ahead of International Women's Day.

About Intrepedius Wines:

Smith fell for wine later than some, but she fell hard. So much so that after an inspirational chat in a bar, her interest was sufficiently piqued to take on some work amongst the vines. That was in 2017, and while it doesn’t sound that extraordinary, maybe a little impulsive, the fact that she turned away from a more reliable career, had three young daughters and was in the middle of a divorce, makes it that much more extraordinary. She has not looked back.

Chrissie Smith’s Intrepidus Wines was only born in the 2021 vintage, working from a one-acre vineyard in the Canberra District that she farms herself. And that’s critical for her philosophy, with an abrupt career shift leading her to wine and quickly to a vineyard-first approach, recognising that the work done amongst the vines was just as important, if not more so, than the work in the winery. The label is currently built around sangiovese and shiraz, with tiny amounts of external grapes to allow for experimentation. Blends of the two home grapes make up a rosé and light red, while shiraz is also co-fermented with a splash of Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne.

Smith’s first roles were as a vineyard hand, before she was offered a position in the winery and vineyard at Clonakilla. She stayed for three years, learning both from Tim for Clonakilla’s wines and a more natural approach with Bryan Martin for his Ravensworth wines.

Smith leased her own vineyard in 2021, officially releasing her Intrepidus label in 2022. Along the way she completed the AWAC (Advanced Wine Assessment Course) at the AWRI, and associate judges and helps to run the Canberra Wine Show each year. She is also on the board for the Canberra Viticultural Society. The first wines released were the 2021 Shiraz VRM and 2022 Sangiovese Shiraz Rosé.

Smith sees her label as a way to learn more about the impact of viticulture and winemaking first-hand. “I like to experiment with varieties and blends but ensure there’s a quality wine in the glass at the end,” she says. “The first red I made, I had just read a paper on the impact of white varieties fermented with shiraz. So, I fermented three different pots of shiraz, one with Marsanne, one with Roussanne, one with Viognier. The impact of about three per cent of each variety was incredible. To taste the literature is 100 times better than reading it, and sharing it is even better.”

About Becker Wines:

An exciting new Hunter Valley project is on the rise here under the Becker banner.

Husband and wife duo, Meagan & James Becker are a part of the new guard based in the Hunter Valley - fighting to reshape the region and its rigid preconceptions surrounding the growth & production of wine. Estate-grown fruit recently certified organic is the highlight of the show. While minimal intervention is the brief to produce considered wines that show detail, restraint, nuance and complexity. 

Cutting his teeth in California, James also visits Mendocino County once a year to produce small quantities of Pinot Noir & Chardonnay. What sets James apart is his unique approach to winemaking, influenced by both the Hunter Valley and California. For instance, while their Hunter Chardonnay is noted for its minerality, the Californian Chardonnay is rich in oak and ripe fruit flavours.

About Krinklewood:

From the 49 acres of grapevines ripening under the fiery sun to the thermal pools underway in the flowing brook; Krinklewood marches to the natural rhythm of the cosmos. Our secluded, French-inspired biodynamic winery and cellar door sits among tranquil countryside, cradled by the spectacular Brokenback Range and Wollombi Brook. We breathe a quintessential wine-country essence, with a sprawling oasis of Provencal gardens, fountains, sun-drenched lawns, sculpted sandstone, and even a labyrinth. Our cellar door extends to a courtyard bathed in dappled sunlight, shaded by pockets of lush green, and shared with a flock of roaming peacocks.

No ordinary vineyard estate, we’re turning ourselves toward a cultural landscape of sustainability, resident artists, good food, and exceptionally expressive wine that tastes of the very region – the soil, the cool micro-climate of our Hunter sub-region, the sunshine, and the rain.

Every sunrise brings a renewed vow to make Krinklewood as sustainable as we can, with deep reverence to life, enduring far beyond our time! We can’t wait to welcome you to the almost-finished architect-designed eco-cottages, to tempt you with the most French Rosé you’ll find in Australia, or leave you to simply roam the Provençal gardens. We’re excited to share our classic and distinctive blends and vintages, our Basket Press Wines, and of course our ever-popular Wild range.

From our beloved winemaker Valentina Moresco: "To me, having the unique opportunity to transform Krinklewood fruit into wine is a chance to truly express the soil and turn it into liquid gold. I want people to taste Krinklewood wine, taste a memory, to store and recall a past sensation - a thought - of when they were sitting under the Manchurian pears in the cellar door and having the best time on a chilly Autumn afternoon. I don’t want people to taste only wine, I want people to taste Krinklewood."

About Comyns & Co:

Established in 2016, Scott and Missy Comyns are the husband and wife team behind the bold and edgy Hunter Valley wine brand Comyns & Co.

Scott has had a stellar career to date. His 20-plus years in the industry working for premium wine producers, working with premium fruit, and accepting a swag of accolades along the way, have laid the foundations to create wines under his own family wine brand.

Scotty’s passion and focus for Comyns & Co. is to create exciting wines from small-batch parcels of premium Hunter Valley fruit. His extensive range of wines includes traditional Hunter Valley styles, alternate varieties, and unique blends.

Missy completes the team as the “Positive Vibes Manager.” Wife, Mother and now “Cellar Door Manager,” Missy joins the wine industry from a background in the health industry, bringing her fun, energetic and genuine personality along with her. Her bubbly persona, positivity and love of life bring warmth and honesty to Comyns & Co.

Nestled in the heart of Peppers Creek, Pokolbin you will find the home of Comyns & Co. Wines. Scotty & Missy have designed their Cellar Door space to feel warm and welcoming as if inviting you into their own home.

This event is 18 years and over only - ID required.

Please Note: Due to the limited flavours and small numbers, dietaries such as vegan + GF unfortunately can't be accommodated for this masterclass. However, Hareruya have some flavours that fit these dietaries, please visit their store to find out more.