You're passionate, driven, and brimming with ideas.
You've got that side hustle brewing – maybe it's custom wine labels, unique tasting experiences, social media wine content, or your own small-batch vineyard project. You're juggling it alongside your day job in the wine industry, but you dream of making it your main gig. This webinar is for you.
We know the grind. We understand the late nights and the burning desire to turn your passion into a sustainable career. Join us for "Turning Your Side Hustle into Your Main Hustle," a focused session specifically for Rootlings navigating entrepreneurship's exciting (and sometimes daunting) journey within the wine world.
Hear from leaders who have made the leap! We will have guest speakers who have turned their side hustle into their main source of income, and have a Q&A session.
ABOUT TILLIE JOHNSON
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ABOUT TILLIE JOHNSON ○
Hi, I’m Natillie Johnston, though most people know me as Tillie J. I’m a viticulturist and winemaker based in the beautiful Yarra Valley, Australia. I’ve been honoured to be named one of the Top 50 Young Gun of Wine award recipients for four years in a row, and in 2023, I was incredibly proud to receive the People’s Choice Award.
My journey into the world of wine started in a rather unexpected way—while I was working at cellar doors in the Yarra Valley to support my studies in Sports Science. But after completing my degree, I found myself completely drawn in by the magic of the wine industry and knew I had to follow that path.
In 2012, I completed my first harvest, working in the lab at Coldstream Hills Wines—an iconic winery founded by James Halliday in 1985. That experience was pivotal; it ignited my passion for the wine industry's culture and community. I soon enrolled in postgraduate studies in winemaking and viticulture at the University of Melbourne, and from there, my journey took me across Australia and around the world.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with some incredible wineries including Yarra Yering in the Yarra Valley, Leeuwin Estate in Margaret River, Brokenwood in the Hunter Valley, Cristom and Ponzi in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Keller in Germany’s Rheinhessen, Cedar Creek in Canada’s Okanagan Valley, and Yealands and Framingham in Marlborough, New Zealand. Along the way, I’ve been lucky enough to work with some truly inspiring winemakers who’ve become not only mentors but dear friends.
Returning to my roots in the Yarra Valley and launching my own wine label had always been a dream of mine. That dream became a reality in 2019 when I was accepted into the inaugural “Young Winemakers” program at No.7 Healesville. There, I created my first wine under my own label, Tillie J Wines—including the 2019 Yarra Valley Pinot Noir, which was awarded a 95-point rating in the 2020 Wine Companion. That was just the beginning. Since then, Tillie J Wines has started gaining recognition in wine shops and fine-dining restaurants across Australia.
I’ve been incredibly grateful for the recognition I’ve received—from my peers, from respected wine reviewers, and from industry publications. I’m passionate about my craft, and it’s truly humbling to be considered a strong voice in the world of wine.
My goal is simple: to create wines that speak honestly of their terroir—wines that are beautiful in their youth but also have the depth to age gracefully. I’m endlessly thankful to everyone who’s supported me and this wine journey so far, and I invite you to come along for the ride.
ALICE DAVIDSON
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ALICE DAVIDSON ○
Alice grew up amongst the apple and pear trees of the Adelaide Hills and studied and worked as a geologist before embracing her true love of wine.
Globetrotting, tasting and working around France, Georgia, Canada and the USA fuelled her curiosity for great wines of many styles.
After completing her degree in Viticulture and Oenology at Adelaide University she worked as a Winemaker for larger companies in McLaren Vale, and the Mount Benson/Robe region. She begun producing wines under her own label, Aunt Alice, in 2016.
One barrel became four, which quickly became ten tonnes, a winery and a cellar door. Her obsession with Chardonnay led her to Tasmania in early 2022 with husband Tom, dog Ziggy and daughter Ocean in tow. Here she is focused on producing delicious, vibrant and focused wines of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling.