More support for Riverland’s wine grape growers

As a critical step in the delivery of the Riverland Wine Industry Blueprint Implementation Plan, the South Australian Government is providing more support to South Australia’s wine grape growers, committing $260,000 to help growers address the oversupply of red wine grapes.

Riverland’s CCW Co-operative, Australia’s largest member-owned wine grape co-operative, will use the grant to fund a position to help wine grape growers who are looking to diversify into alternative crops and to improve access to information on alternative crops and revenue streams for grape growers.

The funding injection comes as welcome news for Riverland Wine, a vital organisation representing more than 930 Riverland wine grape growers and wineries. This funding is in addition to funding for an Implementation Officer to assist with rolling out the Riverland Wine Industry Blueprint, including assisting interested Riverland wine grape growers to transition into new production methods, alternative commodities or other business prospects.

Riverland Wine Executive Officer Lyndall Rowe said the role of the Implementation Officer would be central to ensuring the successful delivery of the plan's objectives over the next two years.

Tasked with coordinating activities outlined in the Blueprint, facilitating communication between key stakeholders, including winemakers, grape growers, government bodies, and industry groups, she said Riverland Wine looked forward to supporting close collaboration between the organisations through a close working relationship between the Implementation Officer and the new incumbent to the CCW Co-operative.

“This investment underscores the government's commitment to supporting the growth and sustainability of the Riverland wine industry. With the Implementation Officer in place, we are confident in our ability to drive forward the initiatives outlined in the Blueprint and continue to build upon the success of our region,” Ms Rowe said.

As the Riverland wine industry looks to immediate support as well as ahead to a future filled with promise and opportunity, the appointment of the Implementation Officer, and the announcement of funding for a CCW Co-operative position marks a significant step towards realising its vision for growth and sustainability. With the support of the South Australian Government and the dedication of its team, Riverland Wine is poised to lead the region towards continued success.