Page 31 - Foodservice magazine may 2019

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A. The Dagger
Pinot Gris, another label under the Pacha Mama banner. B. Left to right: Nina Stocker,
Callie Jemmeson.
C. Pacha Mama buys in fruit from around the country, giving the label a diverse portfolio of wines.
C.
A. B.
“The last thing you want is a ferment that doesn’t finish and you’re left with a whole heap of sugar in your wine,” says Callie.
“We don’t have one set philosophy, we just roll with what nature gives us,” says Stocker.
“Every day you learn how much more you don’t know,” adds Callie.
Only 10 per cent of winemakers in Australia are women, but the duo comments that they’ve noticed growing support for women in wine and women-owned businesses like theirs. “I think it’s probably been an advantage with people getting behind and supporting women
in the industry, [but] all the trailblazers before us have made it a lot easier,” says Callie.
“It’s the age old thing where there are a lot of female graduates who are really keen, but then
it’s tapering off massively into the higher roles,” adds Stocker. “That’s a major challenge for the wine industry and the global economy really, getting women into higher roles.”
Stocker has two young children, and acknowledges that she was fortunate to be given the opportunity to head a wine label. “I certainly would never have imagined doing a job like this
while having two kids. I would’ve either had to take a back step, or just not do it anymore.”
The two now see it as their duty to normalise women and mums working in any position in the wine industry.
“A lot of women in our business have kids and it’s really important that we’re providing a place for [them],” says Callie, who also says she wants to see mums getting the same employment opportunities as dads.
And she believes hiring mums is good for business too. “All the mums that I’ve ever seen just get shit done.”