Graduates of the Next Crop program from McLaren Vale—one of the successful applicant regions for the program in 2024. Image courtesy Wine Australia

Emerging leaders in the Australian wine sector will have new opportunities to develop their skills, with Coonawarra Grape and Wine, Barossa Australia, Wine Victoria and the Queensland Wine Industry Association selected to deliver the Next Crop program in 2025.

For the first time, Next Crop will be offered in the Coonawarra wine region and Queensland. It is also returning to the Barossa, while Victoria’s program will focus on the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland.

Funded by Wine Australia, Next Crop enables wine regions to design and deliver a leadership development offering tailored to their unique needs.

“Next Crop aims to build confidence in regionally based emerging leaders across the grape and wine sector, providing development opportunities to support their career interests and to foster broader leadership engagements within region, or beyond,” said Jo Hargreaves, senior program manager at Wine Australia who oversees its people development and leadership programs.

While Next Crop is typically delivered in two or three regions each year, a once-off expansion to four in 2025 reflects the priorities of the One Grape & Wine Sector Plan which aims to strengthen leadership and collaboration across Australia’s wine regions. This decision responds to strong demand from the sector and a collective commitment to investing in the next generation of leaders.

“By aligning with the One Grape & Wine Sector Plan, we’re supporting leadership growth in regional communities and helping to create a more connected Australian wine sector,” Hargreaves said.

“The leadership, business and management skills that the program will provide will help build the capacity of the grape and wine sector in the Coonawarra, Queensland, Barossa Valley and Victoria.”

Dan Redman, president of Coonawarra Grape and Wine Inc, said that it was an honour for Coonawarra to be selected for the program.

“As a world-renowned wine region, we strive to strengthen our position as a leader in fine Cabernet production,” said Redman.

“This program will develop leadership and governance skills in our emerging leaders, enabling them to tackle regional wine sector challenges. By fostering solution-driven thinkers, we support both industry growth and personal development. The Coonawarra Next Crop program will enhance our region’s resilience, ensuring a strong future for our wine community.”

Queensland is also included in this year’s Next Crop program, and president of the Queensland Wine Industry Association, Ann Bourke, said the association was “thrilled”.

“The Queensland wine industry’s passion and strength has always been about more than just making great wine—it’s about contributing to the future of the Australian wine industry. Being selected for Next Crop 2025 is an incredible opportunity for Queensland to collaborate with like-minded professionals, embrace new ideas, and ensure that the Queensland wine industry continues to thrive on a national and global scale.”

For Wine Victoria CEO Stephanie Duboudin, Next Crop was “a key priority” throughout the development of the Victorian Wine Strategy.

“This program is so important to be able to assist with capability building and leadership skills for the next generation of Victorian wine industry leaders,” explained Duboudin.

Wine Victoria will run a multi-region group across the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland.

Acknowledging that the next generation of wine industry leaders are facing “unprecedented demands”, Nicki Robins, viticultural development manager at Barossa Australia said that the Next Crop program would upskill individuals in “critical areas” pertinent to the needs of each region.

“Now, more than ever, it is crucial to build business and leadership skills and strengthen the community’s capability,” said Robins.

“When Barossa Australia initiated and conducted the original Next Crop leadership program back in 2011, the organisation’s goal was to give the younger generation the skills to build their capacity to participate in industry decision-making and take on roles in key organisations that shape Barossa’s future.

“A major component of the Barossa program encourages the younger generation to initiate conversations about succession planning with their parents, helping facilitate wealth transfer before the business becomes compromised by a lack of modern insight or capability.”

Are you a Daily Wine News subscriber? If not, click here to join our mailing list. It’s free!