Increasing domestic demand for South Australian wine and developing leadership within SA’s grape and wine regional communities are the focus for the final two streams of the Australian Wine Recovery Program established last year by the South Australian State and Federal governments.
The SA Wine Recovery Program, which is a $2.5 million commitment, has been developed following recommendations from the National Viticulture and Wine Sector Working Group, established by Agricultural Ministers to support the wine industry following recent adverse events and market disruptions.
Inca Lee, CEO of the South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA), explained that the program aims to support long-term success across South Australia’s wine regions.
“This program represents a valuable investment by the State and Federal governments in our growers and winemakers at a time when the industry is working through significant adjustments and disruptions,” said Lee.
“Boosting domestic demand is important and this program supports targeted action to grow our presence at home while lifting our sustainability credentials and strengthening governance across the sector.
“It’s a practical, forward-focused plan that will deliver benefits for the people and places behind South Australian wine.”
Boosting solutions, demand, and credentials for South Australian wine
The three streams of the program are being managed by the South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA) which, along with the Wine Grape Council of South Australia, has been a strong partner with the State Government in its planning.
Lisa Bennier, CEO of Winegrape Council SA, highlighted the Wine Recovery Program’s “clear focus” on supporting South Australia’s grapegrowers, winemakers, and its regional communities.
“The three streams will help address some immediate challenges facing our industry, while also backing the people and places at its heart.
“In South Australia we recognise the real strength in working together, and we value the genuine collaboration with the State Government and SAWIA to develop and deliver these positive outcomes,” said Bennier.
The three streams
Stream one, which started in March, aims to find solutions for improved management of vineyard waste, including the growing stockpile of CCA treated timber posts at vineyards across the state.
Stream two aims to boost demand for South Australian wine. Australia’s domestic wine market is the largest single market for Australian wine. The east coast of Australia accounts for nearly 80% of domestic wine consumption, purchased through retail or increasingly online. Recognition, preference and demand for South Australian wine in the domestic market will be grown through a South Australian wine promotion.
“Stream three will provide credentials to position the South Australian wine industry as the leading sustainable wine state in Australia, with our growers and winemakers being preferred business partners, both locally and around the world,” said Minister Julie Collins and Minister Clare Scriven in a joint release to media.
This stream will also focus on improving governance capability of regional producers and industry leaders and those from representative organisations to enable them to address the challenges facing the wine industry.
Julie Collins, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said that supporting the grape and wine sector by addressing challenges was a commitment by the federal government to ensure long-term viability for the industry.
“The project is a great example of the partnership between the Commonwealth and South Australian Government, industry and growers to build local and international demand and capability,” said Minister Collins.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Clare Scriven reinforced the state government’s commitment to support the state’s wine sector.
“The three streams of the Wine Recovery Program have been designed to have broad benefit across the wine industry, with these next streams focused on increasing national demand and continuing to boost the upskilling of our industry professionals,” said Minister Scriven.
“The Malinauskas Government is committed to supporting our wine and grape sector after a very difficult period of significant external challenges.”
Though this focus on building domestic demand is no doubt welcome news to the industry, it’s rather at odds with a current domestic campaign being run by the Cancer Council SA, which directly discourages South Australians from drinking wine.
The Cancer Council SA campaign, titled “Spread”, is aimed at spreading its message to South Australians that alcohol causes cancer, and its accompanying visual material singles out wine specifically, with a glass of red wine plastered to an Adelaide tram along with the words “alcohol causes cancer in 7 sites of the body”.
Daily Wine News reached out to Minister Scriven and Minister Collins for comment on the juxtaposition of this simultaneous drive for domestic demand and drive to reduce demand, but at the time of publication no response has been received.
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