Victorian wineries win funding to crack USA market

Wine Victoria has secured additional support for wineries looking to export to the world’s largest wine market – the United States of America – through subsiding the wineries’ participation in Wine Australia’s Market Entry Program.

Wine Victoria board member Damien Sheehan said the additional support would allow more wineries to participate and grow their exports but there is a tight deadline for applications.

“Wine Victoria is working hard to support Victorian wineries and wine exports,” Sheehan said.

“This funding is a key way that wineries can get help to grow their exports to the USA”, Sheehan said.

Wine Australia chief executive officer Andreas Clark said the Market Entry Program was designed to educate potential exporters about the intricacies of the US market (compliance, marketing, pricing and logistics) as well as providing crucial contacts with potential importers.

“The critical thing to remember is that the USA is not one market; the different laws in each state mean it’s almost like dealing with 50 separate countries.”

“The Market Entry Program, which runs for 12 months commencing in July 2019, helps unravel the complexity and also provides insights into the different importers to allow contacts to be developed”, Clark said.

Sheehan said there was funding of 50 per cent or $5000 of the $10,000 cost of the Market Entry Program for up to 7 eligible Victorian wine producers in the 2019–20 program.

But, he said, timing is critical as applications for the Market Entry Program close on Friday 7 June.

More details on the program and how to apply can be found here.

“We encourage all eligible Victorian wine producers to participate and take advantage of this assistance”, Sheehan said.