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THE WOMEN BEHIND THE WINES
Every year at MLG, International Women’s Day gives us a chance to slow down and listen to the people who make this place what it is. Rather than telling a polished story, we asked the women across our vineyard, winery and café to share their own experiences in their own words — what they’ve learned, who has helped them, and what working in wine looks and feels like to them. The reflections that follow are exactly that: personal, unfiltered and true to each of their journeys.
ELIZABETH LADHAMS, WINEMAKER
As Winemaker at Mount Langi Ghiran, what I enjoy most is the deep connection to the seasons. Every day, every week, and every year brings something different in what the vineyards deliver.
Time is marked by the vines: the cold, quiet, misty mornings of winter when everything is dormant; the joyful reawakening and budburst in spring; and of course, the “big show”—harvest in autumn.
Lessons from a Career Reinvention
Winemaking is a second career for me. It required a big leap from a comfortable position in finance into a completely new world with a very steep learning curve. A mentor in my previous career gave me invaluable advice when I took responsibility for a function I knew almost nothing about: “Know what you don’t know.”
Equally important was the second part: “Know who will know what you don’t know.” Seek out experts and learn from them. People love sharing their knowledge when asked thoughtfully.
In the wine community, we are generous with our time and insights—I tap into that almost every single day.
Support that Stuck with Me
Our vintage winemaker in 2019—my first vintage at MLG—focused on adapting physical processes to each individual, whether they were short, tall, male or female. He made sure the work fit the person, which was an important learning.
Winemaking can seem all about physical strength, but in reality it’s about mental agility: adapting quickly and working in the smartest way possible. I’ve carried this with me ever since and paid it forward many times.
Lifting Other Women as We Go
Women in wine—and women in STEM more broadly—are still a minority. Supporting each other matters. Sometimes that’s as simple as knowing who the other women are in winemaking and viticulture roles in our local regions, like the Grampians and Pyrenees.
Having an informal network as a sounding board is invaluable. More tangibly, when committees are being formed, I always try to suggest other women, because diversity is essential to high‑performing teams.
Why Allies Matter
In our winery, the Chief Winemaker insists on a diverse vintage crew to maintain a balanced culture. Our current winery team is 50% female—well ahead of industry averages.
We hope this visible diversity becomes a green flag for future applicants, whether for full‑time roles or harvest positions. That—and the outstanding Shiraz, of course.
Advice for Women Entering Wine
Rattle the cage.
Our consumers are 50% female, and in some studies, women are increasingly the primary decision‑makers in wine purchases. Our industry needs to reflect the people buying our wines. If the people making the wine reflect the end consumer, perhaps some of the guesswork disappears in crafting the wines and styles that will resonate.
LILLY LAWLOR, CELLAR DOOR MANAGER
I’ve worked in many roles within the wine industry — from sommelier, to cellar door, to vintage hand, and now learning about vineyard management. In my current position, I absolutely love teaching people who come into cellar door about wine, and hopefully sharing some of my passion and knowledge with them.
A Mentor Who Opened a New Door
Two years ago, a local gentleman named Ant came into the cellar door where I was working. After chatting for a while, he mentioned he ran a nearby vineyard. I asked if he would consider taking me on so I could learn more about the vine and the vineyard. By the next week, I was standing in a freezing‑cold vineyard learning how not to cut my fingers off with electric secateurs. Being male or female never came into it — I was simply a person wanting to learn, and he respected the hard work I put in. He taught me everything I now know about vineyards, and for that I’m truly grateful.
A Supportive Team
Every weekend I’m supported by my amazing staff. They make the working day fly. I always strive to support other women on my team by treating them exactly the same as I treat the men. I respect all my staff, I listen to them, and I love seeing them learn and enjoy their time here with me.
The Realities of Representation
This is a hard question to answer, because I’ve seen and experienced discrimination time and time again throughout this industry. And as long as women are under‑represented, I don’t see things changing quickly. It’s hard to fight for equality when women are still fighting for things like equal pay.
That’s why I think it’s important for more women to join the industry — so we can continue to push for change.
LAURA COOK, CELLAR HAND
A Role Built on Flexibility and Hands‑On Learning
I joined MLG at the end of 2025 in a role that works across both the laboratory and the cellar. It allows me to use the skills I gained from previous lab work undertaking the tasks set out by the winemakers and maintaining integrity of wines on site.
In my short time at Mount Langi Ghiran so far, I’ve really valued the tips and tricks shared by the team, particularly our cellar hand Simon Read. Every winery works differently, and having someone who knows the environment makes it easier to learn new processes and adapt quickly.
Mentors Who Made an Impact
My first vintage opportunity came from winemaker Tom Garrett at Primo Estate. Before that, I worked in a diagnostic lab—sterile, controlled and predictable. Tom showed me how grapes on a vine become the drink we know and love, and he taught me everything from the differences between white, rosé and red winemaking to simple cellar skills like connecting hoses.
That first vintage made me want to get my hands dirty again.
Deanna Clark at Step Road/Beresford/Press & Bloom also had a big impact on my career. As a woman in the industry, she has been a real inspiration. She started her career in the vineyard and worked her way up, and her attitude—especially her belief that “we don’t need a man, we can do it ourselves”—showed me what’s possible with determination.
During my time at Step Road, winemaker and winery manager Chad Smith and cellar hands Tricky May and Christopher Frizell were strong supporters of women in the team. They hired more women during vintage and encouraged us to take on every task—including jobs that traditionally might not be offered to women. Their encouragement helped build confidence and reinforced that women belong in every part of this industry.
Showing Women What’s Possible in Wine
Traditionally, men have been the majority in the wine industry, but it’s great to see more women stepping forward and gaining recognition. I hope I can help build enthusiasm and confidence for other women coming into the industry. I’m excited to be part of Vintage 2026 with our winemakers Liz Ladhams and Adam Louder, pushing ourselves and contributing to MLG’s future wines.
Advice for Women Entering the Industry
“It all seems impossible until it’s done.” That quote really resonates with me. I came into my first vintage with no study, no experience—just a love of wine. Your size, strength or background doesn’t matter. Throw yourself into it: get sticky, get covered in juice, go home tired and proud.
If you love wine, this is where the magic happens—where science meets art, and where you help create the bottle you’ll later share with friends, family… or enjoy on your own, because you deserve it.
MICAELA WILLIAMS, VINEYARD WORKER
I’m a new vineyard worker and started doing de-suckering last year after looking for a job close to home. Before this, I worked in outdoor education, which involved a lot of face‑to‑face interaction, so moving into a role where I can work more autonomously has been a really nice change.
I’ve also started helping Lily in the café on some weekends. One of the things I enjoy most about working at MLG is the knowledge sharing. I love swinging past the winery to chat with Liz and Laura about the science behind the wine, and learning about the tasting side from Lily.
Support That Shows Up Every Day
Being very new to both the role and the company, everyone has been really lovely in answering my questions whenever I’m curious about how things work.
There hasn’t been one standout moment, but the general support and attitude from everyone has made a big difference as I’ve settled into the team.
