Glass ceilings are made to be smashed.
In the Australian wine industry, women know a thing or two about glass ceilings.
The fight for equal pay, opportunity and career advancement is still very much a battle for many women who choose wine as a career
But a new initiative promises to make a big difference for one, young talented Aussie.
Tread Softly’s Next Generation Winemaking Rising Star Program is set to launch on June 1 and offers a 12-month, paid mentorship program to assist one young female winemaker to make their wine dream a reality.
Tread Softly, the well-known sustainable wine brand owned by Fourth Wave, is looking for an outside-of-the-box thinker to kickstart what will become its annual Rising Star program.
The successful candidate will work with the all-woman-led wine team at Tread Softly to create their own Tread Softly wine from the grapes right through to the wine’s design and marketing. The year-long journey will culminate in visits to Wine Paris, France, and ProWein in Germany, two of the world’s biggest international wine and spirit trade fairs, to show their wine to the greater wine world.
“We are really trying to stay away from calling this any type of competition because I feel like women are constantly being told to compete with each other,” says Indeya Passfield, global marketing manager and international ambassador for Tread Softly.
Indeya will be a mentor together with Tread Softly senior winemaker, Carol Riebke; CEO/ co-founder of leading drinks branding agency, Denomination, Rowena Curlewis, and Tread Softly production manager, Lily Davis.
“What we are doing with this,” says Indeya, “is trying to find the right person based on a little bit of experience, but it is also about what they want to create.
“One of the questions will be what do you think the drink of the next generation is?
“We really want to find someone who is really an outside-of-the-box-thinker, who has an idea they really want to bring to life.”
Applications open June 1 and close July 11, 2025. The Next Gen Rising Star will be announced on August 11 ahead of their immersion in time for the 2026 vintage in the state judged to be the best fruit source for the wine, generally expected to be South Australia. The maker will be required to participate an average of one day a week for a maximum of 52 weeks and will be paid $500 a day plus all travel expenses. The overall time commitment is estimated to be between 50-60 days. In some months, especially during vintage, the time required could be in five-to-seven-day stints. However, in other months, there will be little to no participation required. The winner will also meet with key customers in Australia and in leading markets such as the UK.
So, what kind of requirements are needed to be the Next Rising Star?
• You need to be an Australian resident for the duration of the program.
• Be aged 35 and under.
• Have gained at least two years’ work experience in the wine sector and/or currently studying or have completed a bachelor or master’s degree in wine-related studies.
“It’s an amazing opportunity,” adds Indeya Passfield.
“We’re not trying to fly the flag of women being under-represented because we think if we get the right platform women will carry the voice and it will just work.
“So, for the first year they don’t necessarily have to be winemakers, but they need at least two years of vintage or hands on experience. The following year it could be a marketer or could be a mixologist in the spirits space or someone who wants to hero something in sustainability in terms of production.
“The first year we are going after the winemaking aspect of it but, yes, it (Rising Star Program) can evolve. The freedom exists to do more.
“I do enjoy smashing a glass ceiling!”
•For more information go to: www.treadsoftly.com/termsandconditions
•Any questions? Contact Indeya on [email protected]
