Growers now partners in Australian Grape and Wine

Wine grape growers from South Australia who sell fruit and contribute to the South Australia Grape Growers Industry Fund (SAGGIF) now have membership of Australian Grape and Wine through their membership of Wine Grape Council of South Australia (WGSCA).

Below is a short introduction from Australian Grape and Wine outlining the benefits of their organisation and how growers can get in contact with any questions or concerns relating to national issues. 

Australian Grape and Wine Incorporated (Australian Grape & Wine) is Australia’s national association of winegrape and wine producers. We provide leadership, strategy, advocacy and support that serves Australian grape and wine businesses now and into the future.

We represent the interests of the more than 2,500 winemakers and  5,000 winegrape growers working in Australia. Our role is to help forge a political, social and regulatory environment — in Australia and overseas — that enables profitable and sustainable Australian wine businesses. These businesses make a significant contribution to growing regional economies by driving growth in jobs, regional exports and food and wine tourism.

Grape growers and winemakers across Australia can look forward to the benefits the amalgamated organisation will bring including:

• an enhanced voice at a national level and balanced representation across the entire wine sector;
• representation at national policy setting forums, including Plant Health Australia (PHA);
• stronger engagement with Wine Australia and involvement in R&D policy strategy and priority setting;
• enhanced service delivery, with an emphasis on better information on demand/supply, influences on prices and a more effective Code of Conduct; and 
• direct involvement in policy issues.

Each month, WGCSA will provide updates about AGW activities to members. The Executive of Australian Grape & Wine will also work directly with grape grower members through WGCSA, as we will with our other winemaker and grape grower membership.

To get in touch regarding issues of National significance impacting upon the wine sector you can contact our CEO, Tony Battaglene on 0413 014 807 / tony@agw.org.au.

For concerns relating to water, biosecurity, pest and disease management (including maximum residue limits and agrichemical availability) or issues regarding environmental and economic sustainability, contact Anna Hooper on 0427 685 077 / anna@agw.org.au. 

As Manager Industry Policy, Anna works on promoting the best interests of the industry in domestic policy and we encourage WGCSA members to share their views.

For queries around market access technical issues, please contact Damien Griffante on 0423 094 943 / damien@agw.org.au.  For those broader strategic issues around wine and health, container deposit schemes and the ACCC, please contact Lee McLean is always happy to hear your views, please contact him on 0418 998 749 / lee@agw.org.au.

WGCSA members are encouraged to sign up to receive AGW updates here.