Wynns Coonawarra Viticulturist Dr Catherine Kidman has been crowned viticulturist of the year at the 2020 Women in Wine Awards.

The prestigious award comes only a month after Dr Kidman was recognised as the perpetual Viticulturist of the Year winner for Gourmet Traveller WINE in October.

Dr Kidman said she was humbled to have received consecutive top honours, ahead of her talented peers.

“I am blown away to have been named the Australian Women in Wine Viticulturist of the Year,” she said.

“To receive this award and also Gourmet Traveller Wine Viticulturist of the Year is humbling and incredible recognition not only for me personally but for the broader Wynns team.”

The Australian Women in Wine Awards acknowledges and rewards the work of women in the Australian wine community, with an aim to inspire and highlight female role models and leaders.

“I hope it (this award) inspires young people, but in particular young females into choosing a career in viticulture,” Dr Kidman said.

“I believe there has never been a more challenging, but exciting, time to be in our vineyards.

“I welcome the next generation to challenge the status quo and create a sustainable future both from an environmental and career point of view – there is so much scope for new ways of thinking and I cannot wait to watch our fearless females take action.”

Gourmet Traveller WINE Chairman of judges Peter Forrestal praised the work of Dr Kidman earlier this year when she took out the perpetual award for Viticulturist of the Year for Gourmet Traveller Wine.

“Catherine Kidman shows how detailed viticultural investigation can have a significant impact on wine quality,” he said.

“She wants the vines to produce grapes that are concentrated in colour and flavour and is looking for judicious water management to achieve this via research that includes the use of thermography.

“As the GT Wine Viticulturist of the Year for 2020, we salute Cath Kidman’s meticulous research and the ways in which it impacts on the wine quality at Wynns in the short and long term.

“It’s valuable and impressive in itself, but even more important when considered as part of the contribution the team of viticulturists makes to the quality of wine at Wynns.”