Support for sustainability credentials will be expanded, helping wine businesses improve efficiency and reduce emissions The Government of Australia has announced an extension of the South Australian Wine Recovery Program…

Support for sustainability credentials will be expanded, helping wine businesses improve efficiency and reduce emissions

The Government of Australia has announced an extension of the South Australian Wine Recovery Program to 2027, reinforcing its support for grape growers and wine makers to diversify markets, improve productivity, and strengthen long-term sustainability.

Backed by $3.1 million in federal funding, the extended program will continue to support South Australia’s wine industry in recovering from the adverse events and market disruptions experienced in recent years.

A key component of the extension is a third round of the Resting Vineyard Rebate, enabling growers to temporarily rest sections of their vineyards to reduce production costs and gain time to assess the future viability of their operations.

Existing program streams will also be continued, focusing on improving vineyard waste management, building domestic market demand, and boosting regional grape and wine capability.

This includes targeted support to identify safe and sustainable solutions for disposing of the growing stockpile of Copper Chrome Arsenate (CCA) treated posts, a long-standing environmental challenge for the sector.

Support for sustainability credentials will be expanded, helping wine businesses improve efficiency and reduce emissions. To date, this stream has assisted 75 wine businesses across South Australia.

Recognising that Australian consumers remain the largest market for local producers, the extended program will also fund a 12-month promotional campaign aimed at raising the profile of South Australia’s wines in the domestic market.

South Australia remains the powerhouse of the national wine industry, producing 80 per cent of Australia’s premium wine and 50 per cent of all bottled wine. In 2024–25, more than 397 million litres of wine were exported, valued at $1.8 billion.

The SA Wine Recovery Program was developed following recommendations from the Viticulture and Wine Sector Working Group, established by Agriculture Ministers, with further input from the South Australian Wine Industry Association and the Wine Grape Council of South Australia.

The extension forms part of a broader suite of measures being delivered by both governments to support recovery and resilience in the grape and wine sector.

This includes the Albanese Government’s $4.6 million Grape and Wine Sector Long-term Viability Support Package, aimed at supporting diversification opportunities nationwide.

In addition, the Commonwealth recently committed a further $30 million for three additional rounds of the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant Program to boost visitation to wine regions. In the most recent round, more than $3.8 million was delivered to 76 South Australian businesses.