A relative newcomer to the winemaking scene, Chrissie Smith is a finalist in a national competition. Photo: Intrepidus Wines.
A small-batch capital country winemaker is already making a name for herself nationally after only a short time in the game.
While some grow up surrounded by the industry, Intrepidus Wines owner Chrissie Smith made the switch to a new career after working in the disability sector.
“I didn’t get into winemaking until 2018 and that was off the back of a life change,” she said.
“I’d worked for a few other wineries and vineyards around Canberra and then released Intrepidus in 2021.
“I was really lucky that I had some really good people and mentors that really helped me at the time.”
The Yass winery is now one of four finalists in the Agricultural Services category of the 2024 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards, alongside Robinsons Honey, Goldtec Control Systems and SS Equine.
The awards have more than 60 categories across the retail, services and manufacturing industries, as well as categories for individual female small business owners.
For Ms Smith, finding she’d been chosen as a finalist from the 3000 other entries from across Australia was a shock.
“I decided to enter because I wanted to prove that women and mums can be successful,” she said.
“I just didn’t think it would go anywhere.”
Ms Smith wants to inspire other women to pursue careers in viticulture. Photo: Intrepidus Wines.
Ms Smith said she was pleased the awards recognised women succeeding in their chosen fields – including male-dominated ones.
“We’re very unbalanced, in gender, in wine and viticulture and agriculture,” she said.
“It’s great advocating for it and trying to get other women into agriculture and viticulture.”
Ms Smith believes that when women see other women being successful they can become motivated to pursue their dreams.
“In the industry, I think it’s about 30 per cent women compared to males [at 70 per cent],” she said.
“It’s still very much a man’s world. I’m trying to encourage other people that, if this is something they want to do, there are people who can help and mentor them.”
The nomination is not the first honour for Ms Smith, who was also named a finalist in the 2024 Young Gun of Wine Awards.
“I certainly never expect it,” she said.
“I want to inspire my kids and teach them that if you work hard, it really does pay off.”
In the coming weeks, Ms Smith will continue expanding Intrepidus Wines while doing vineyard contracting and consulting, as well as wrapping up her viticulture degree.
“I didn’t expect to be a finalist so I didn’t even look at when the announcement was [scheduled],” she said.
“I am in my final year, and we’ve actually got a res school [an in-person intensive block of classes] that week, but I have a lovely friend who also has a small business in Sydney who I’m going to send on my behalf.”
Ms Smith hopes the national award will bring more eyeballs – and potentially, more visitors – to the Canberra wine region.
“We often get left behind, compared to a lot of other wine-growing regions because we’re pretty small, but we are actually doing some amazing things here.”
Winners of the 2024 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards will be announced on 24 August at a ceremony in Sydney.
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