2022 Field Blend White

Ladygarden Wines celebrate women in wine. Founder Kelly Pearson works with her ‘partners in wine’, other women winemakers, creating a range of wines that speak of their place and to the passion and specialty of each winemaker.

Based in Geelong, Victoria, Kelly initially crafted wines with grapes from her hometown and has since partnered with several other women winemakers from around Australia to produce wines under the Ladygarden label. Each year she works with a new group of women: experienced winemakers who have their own established businesses, emerging winemakers and women new to the industry who benefit from mentoring.

Ladygarden is a diverse group of women from a range of backgrounds, all who love to tell their stories through a shared passion for wine.

Creating a collaborative environment with Ladygarden’s ‘partners in wine’, the goal of Ladygarden Wines is to be an inclusive wine business that not only showcases women in wine but also gives back to the wine community. Through the provision of scholarships to women wishing to undertake viticulture and winemaking studies, internship (or work experience) placements and winemaking, and business and sales support, Ladygarden will provide a strong network that also creates a positive economic outcome for all involved.

Words by Kelly: Wine became a passion for me during my early 20s. Living in London for a year opened my eyes to the world of food and wine. I came back to Brisbane in the food and wine boom of the mid-late 90s, heady times.  I was hooked and quickly landed my first wine-specific job as a sales rep for Negotiants Australia.

Over the next 27 years, I’ve had the privilege of working in most aspects of the wine industry. Wine sales, operating wine and private members clubs, brand management and marketing through to wine production and wine consulting; I’ve done it all so I understand every aspect of the industry.

My winemaking has ranged from small batch, boutique winemaking to large commercial operations and has taken me all over Australia and much of the world. Vintages have included:

• Clare
• Padthaway
• California
• Geographe (WA)
• Long Island (NY)
• Central NSW
• Upper Hunter Valley
• Yunnan and Ningxia (China)
• Karnataka (India)
• Mt Benson
• And back to my hometown of Geelong, Victoria.

Settling back in Geelong at Mt Moriac Wines, I started making some small batches for myself. Then it struck me, I needed my own label, and Ladygarden was born. From the label, I’ve taken the concept and transformed it into a business by and for women in wine. 

Ladygarden is an evolving being and for me; working with like-minded, passionate women inspires me, especially given I work with a product I love. Working with women in wine,  telling stories and fostering the next generation takes me to my happy place; innovating, evolving and inspiring.