SA Wine Recovery Program to focus on domestic demand and leadership
Tuesday 8 July 2025 Primary industries
Increasing domestic demand for South Australian wine and developing leadership within SA’s grape and wine regional communities are the focus for the final two streams of the Australian Wine Recovery Program established last year by the Australian and South Australian Governments.
The SA Wine Recovery Program, representing a $2.5 million commitment, has been developed following recommendations from the National Viticulture and Wine Sector Working Group, established by Agricultural Ministers to support the wine industry following recent adverse events and market disruptions.
The three streams of the program are being managed by the South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA) which, along with the Wine Grape Council of South Australia, has been a strong partner with the State Government in its planning.
Stream one, which started in March, aims to find solutions for improved management of vineyard waste, including the growing stockpile of CCA treated timber posts at vineyards across the state.
Stream two aims to boost demand for South Australian wine. Australia’s domestic wine market is the largest single market for Australian wine. The east coast of Australia accounts for nearly 80% of domestic wine consumption, purchased through retail or increasingly online. Recognition, preference and demand for South Australian wine in the domestic market will be grown through a South Australian wine promotion.
This stream will also focus on improving governance capability of regional producers and industry leaders and those from representative organisations to enable them to address the challenges facing the wine industry.
The program activities are the latest in a range of measures being implemented over the past 12 months by both the Australian and South Australian Governments to assist grape growers and wine producers recover from adverse conditions.
Stream three will provide credentials to position the South Australian wine industry as the leading sustainable wine state in Australia, with our growers and winemakers being preferred business partners, both locally and around the world.
This stream will also focus on improving governance capability of regional producers and industry leaders and those from representative organisations to enable them to address the challenges facing the wine industry.