Industry Member Notice | V26 Grape Oversupply
Consider Your Options Now
|
South Australian Grape Growers,
The Wine Grape Council of SA (WGCSA), Australian Grape & Wine (AGW), and the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) jointly acknowledge that ongoing wine and grape oversupply continues to impact growers and regions across South Australia, with limited improvement expected for the 2026 vintage. Unfortunately, the commercial realities of the market are largely outside our control; however, what growers can control is how to manage their vineyards for the season ahead by making informed choices about vineyard management, costs, and future planning. Whilst we recognise these decisions are difficult to make, for those with uncontracted vineyards, resting your vines may be a practical option that will reduce unnecessary input costs and preserve vine health for this coming season. We also note the ongoing discussions around the potential reinstatement of the Ethephon rebate. The industry remains hopeful that support will be made available to help growers manage through another challenging vintage however growers wishing to rest their vineyards cannot wait for this outcome to be confirmed. The Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) has released a detailed bulletin on how to rest vineyards effectively. This process is time-sensitive, and now is the time to plan and organise to ensure the best outcomes. You can access the bulletin here: No grape contract this season? Explore vineyard resting and removal pathways - The Australian Wine Research Institute and a comprehensive list of resources can be accessed in an information pack – Resting and removing vineyards. WGCSA, AGW and AWRI also recognise the emotional toll that these difficult business decisions can have on growers, their families and regions. It is not easy to make the decision to rest your vineyard. The uncertainty and pressure of recent seasons have already been significant, and we encourage growers to access the South Australian Assistance Guide SA Assistance Guide - WGCSA for information on financial and wellbeing support, and to contact Rural Business Support for free, confidential advice with business planning and personal wellbeing assistance. Call 1800 836 211 or visit www.ruralbusinesssupport.org.au. Resting for a season may also provide valuable time to consider further options and opportunities going forward. The WGCSA with support from AGW, and AWRI are committed to assisting growers through this process — supporting informed decisions that strengthen both individual businesses and the long-term sustainability of our state’s grape and wine industry. While we remain hopeful for the reinstatement of the Ethephon rebate, we encourage growers to consider this approach for uncontracted fruit and to make proactive plans for the 2026 season as soon as possible. |
Vineyard resting rebate linkshttps://pir.sa.gov.au/news/news/primary_industries/vineyard-resting-support-available/_nocache
The Ethephon rebate website and application portal: SA.GOV.AU - Vineyard resting rebate 
Contact Details:
The Wine Grape Council of SA (WGCSA) Lisa Bennier, Chief Executive Officer Australian Grape and Wine (AGW) Lee McLean, Chief Executive officer Tel: 08 8133 4300 Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) AWRI helpdesk: Tel: 08 8313 6600 (option 2) Email: [email protected] |