News

In July, Australian Grape & Wine has welcomed the release of Dr Craig Emerson’s Review of Regulatory Options for the Wine and Grape Sector commissioned by the Albanese Government. The report was funded by the Government’s generous Grape and Wine Sector Long-term Viability Support Package. The inquiry sought to identify market failures within the grape …

On 3 September 2025, the South Australian and New South Wales Governments announced that their Container Deposit Schemes (CDS) will be expanded to include wine and spirit bottles up to 3L, with changes to take effect in mid to late 2027. The Northern Territory Government has also introduced legislation to expand its scheme, with commencement …

We are delighted to share that the Australian Government has confirmed continued funding for the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant Program for the next three years. This commitment provides much-needed certainty for our sector and ensures producers can continue to benefit from this important support. Applications for Round 7 are now open and will …

Wine Australia has today released the Review of Regulatory Options for the Wine and Grape Sector, prepared by Dr Craig Emerson. The report recommends a series of reforms aimed at addressing power imbalances in the supply chain and improving commercial practices. This includes a proposal for a mandatory Code of Conduct for winegrape purchases, as …

On 4 June 2025, the Board of Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) approved a proposal to update definitions for genetically modified (GM) food in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code). The relevant ministers in each country will now have 60 days to consider that decision. The new definitions came about …

Most of our members would know that global wine consumption has been declining but if you’re not right across that yet, a recent article by Wine Australia’s Market Insights team paints a pretty clear picture. The lowlights are that in the five years to 2023, global consumption of wine fell by 3.1 billion litres which …

In a dramatic political turnaround, the Australian Labor Party, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has secured a decisive majority in the 2025 Federal Election. At the time of writing, Labor has won 93 seats in the House of Representatives—well above the 76 needed to form majority government—marking its strongest electoral performance in history. This …

Australian wine sector experts from Australian Grape & Wine, the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI), Wine Australia and the Australian Government attended the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) meetings held in Dijon, France from 3–14 March 2025. Their participation ensured Australia’s voice was heard across a wide range of technical, regulatory, and sustainability …

As noted in previous member updates (November, December 2024) , Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) has been in the process of finalising new requirements for energy labelling on alcoholic beverages (Proposal P1059) and carbohydrate and sugar claims on alcoholic beverages (Proposal P1049). These proposals have been the subject of extensive consultation over several …

Australian Grape & Wine welcomes the recommendation by the Senate that the Government should invest in expanding existing markets including through the promotion of wineries and cellar doors domestically, along with the recent commitment by the Albanese Government to boost Austrade’s support for wine exporters. Such assistance is strongly justified given the current economic climate …