Strengthening the future of SA’s wine industry

Premier Peter Malinauskas held a forum on Thursday 13 August 2026 with key representatives of the South Australian wine industry, to hear directly about the challenges facing growers and winemakers to strengthen the future of the industry.

Across the state and the nation, the sector is facing significant pressure from global oversupply, declining grape prices, changing demand and ongoing impacts from previous international trade disruptions.

The Premier convened the forum with wine grape growers, producers and broader industry representatives, including peak bodies South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA) and Wine Grape Council of South Australia (WGCSA).

It will give industry direct access to relevant ministers and agency representatives, to ensure a whole-of-government response to these challenges.

The South Australian wine sector is a key contributor to the state’s economy, driving trade, jobs and region growth.

The state’s sector produces 80% of Australia’s premium wine and 50% of all bottled wine.

In the 12 months to March 2026, wine was South Australia’s third largest export commodity by value. In that same year, the state exported 317.5 million litres of wine, amounting to $1.62 billion.

South Australia has 680 wineries, 3143 vineyard owners, and 73,156 hectares of vineyards.

The Malinauskas Government announced in June an expanded wine industry development fund to carve out new opportunities for our state’s premium wine regions.

The Government is investing $1.8 million over 4 years to establish Project 450, a South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA) managed support fund that will provide market and industry development initiatives designed to strengthen and grow South Australia’s premium wine regions.

The project builds on a range of investments being delivered by the Malinauskas Government to support South Australia’s wine producers to diversify and build new trade relationships, including:

• $3.9 million to target new export opportunities in China, the US, UK and Southeast Asia, through the Global Wine Growth Program
• $1.85 million to re-engage South Australian wine businesses with China, helping to repair a disastrous breakdown in trade relations that occurred under the former Federal Coalition and state Liberal governments
• $3.1 million to boost domestic demand, build regional capability, and support vineyard waste management, through the South Australian Wine Recovery Program.

During his recent trip to the United States, the Premier last week signed a memorandum of understanding with America’s largest wine and liquor retailer – Total Wine and More – to give South Australian wine producers greater access to the United States market.

Described as the US equivalent of Dan Murphy’s, Total Wine and More operates 294 superstores across 30 states and is already one of the largest retail stockists of premium Australian wine in the United States.

The agreement, signed by Premier Peter Malinauskas and Total Wine and More Chief Executive Ryan Ross in Maryland, will deliver closer collaboration between South Australia and Total Wine and More to grow the presence of premium South Australian wines across the retailer’s national network through joint promotions, trade education, buyer engagement and category development over the next 12 to 18 months.