Wine Australia has announced the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association, McLaren Vale Wine Region and Riverland Wine will deliver this year’s Next Crop program, equipping emerging leaders with practical skills, networks and confidence to support the long-term resilience and success of the grape and wine sector in those regions.
Wine Australia has announced the engagement of Map of Ag Australia to build the digital platform for the National Vineyard Register that aims to provide a nation-wide resource to support balancing supply and demand and industry initiatives.
Australian wine producers have delivered a confident showing across key international markets in recent weeks, recording strong engagement from trade, buyers, sommeliers and media. From packed tastings and masterclasses to conversations with some of the world’s biggest buyers, the activity reinforced Australia’s reputation as a diverse, premium wine producer and highlighted the value of international engagement for the sector.
A groundbreaking pilot project to reuse vineyard trellis posts has been launched in South Australia, marking a significant step towards advancing a circular economy for treated timber.
The amount of research funding available for the Australian grape and wine sector is set to increase, with the creation of new funding pathways aimed at fast-tracking innovations that address its most critical challenges.Wine Australia has designed the Australian Wine Future Fund to increase funding opportunities, create additional value, accelerate investments and deliver impactful solutions for the sector.
Japan is a significant market for Australian wine, ranking as the eighth biggest export destination by volume and value. In the 12 months ended March 2019, exports to Japan grew by 16 per cent to reach a record $55 million.
Japan is by far the second biggest wine market in Asia behind mainland China. The International Wine and Spirit Record (IWSR) reports that 39.5 million cases of wine were sold in Japan in 2016, compared to 157 million cases in mainland China and 3.8 million cases in third-placed Hong Kong.