The Riverland wine industry is set to develop a 10-year blueprint, defining a pathway to recovery following unprecedented challenges of the past few years.

The Riverland wine region is facing an oversupply of red wine grapes. Sales of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon have fallen drastically because of the loss of the China market.

This has been compounded by high input costs and extreme inflationary pressure on global shipping rates which has strained Australian wine’s ability to be competitive on the global market. Riverland grape growers and winemakers have felt the brunt of this, with recent floods further compounding these issues.

To assist the local industry to deal with the ongoing challenging conditions, the Government of South Australia is providing a $100,000 grant to Riverland Wine for the development of a 10-year industry blueprint, with Riverland Wine contributing a further $50,000.

The blueprint will identify strategic priorities for the entire region’s wine industry to help it recover from some of the most challenging years in decades and improve productivity.

A steering committee with representation from across the industry and government will also be formed, with an independent chair, to ensure wide consultation and input from the entire supply chain.

Quotes

Attributable to Clare Scriven:

The Malinauskas Labor Government is committed to supporting the region’s grape growers and winemakers to get on the road to recovery.

The Riverland along with the Murraylands, is home to over 60% of the State's wine grape production and is the largest wine region, by volume, in Australia. Now, undoubtedly, this vital region is facing one of its toughest periods in living memory. This blueprint will serve to bring all participants in the Riverland wine supply chain to work together, ensuring it is again a sustainable and thriving industry.

Attributable to Lyndall Rowe, Executive Officer at Riverland Wine:

The Riverland grape growing and wine making community welcomes the Government of South Australia’s investment to support our industry now and into the future.

By working together, industry and government can help our region recover, improve productivity and most importantly, create great wine to be enjoyed around the world