Investing in the future of Australia’s wine industry

The Albanese Labour Government yesterday announced that $30 million worth of new funding would be made available for Australia’s world-class wine and cider producers.

This new funding also included the extension of the popular Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant Program for another three years, with the first of three new $10 million rounds opening Monday September 1. 

Australian Grape & Wine welcomed the announcement of Round 7 of the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants, and the commitment to extend the program for a further three years.

Valued at $10 million each financial year, the program allows eligible wine producers to apply for grants of up to $100,000 for their eligible rebatable domestic cellar door sales. The program encourages agritourism by rewarding producers who attract visitors to Australia’s world-class wine regions. Since its establishment, it has supported hundreds of wineries and cellar door operations to enhance visitor experiences and showcase the premium wines that underpin our national reputation.

Also released yesterday by Wine Australia was a landmark report on the economic contribution of the Australian wine sector.

The report found that the sector:

• contributes $51.3 billion in gross output to the Australian economy.

  
  

• adds $25.4 billion in value-added activity to GDP.

  
  

• supports more than 203,000 direct and indirect jobs, the vast majority in regional Australia.

  
  

• attracted 7.5 million visits in 2024, with tourists spending $11.6 billion in regions.

  
  

• And tourists who stopped at a winery spent significantly more than others, averaging $1,487 per trip.

Australian Grape & Wine Chief Executive, Lee McLean, said the announcement was a clear signal of the Government’s commitment to regional Australia.

“The Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants Program is instrumental in helping wineries reinvest in their cellar door experiences, attracting more visitors and strengthening regional economies. Extending this program for another three years provides certainty for producers at a challenging time for our industry,” Mr McLean said.

“The new Economic Contribution of the Australian Wine Sector report confirms what we already know: wine is not only a key export industry, but also one of Australia’s most important agritourism drivers. With more than 200,000 Australians supported by our sector and $51 billion contributed to the economy, investing in cellar door experiences is investing in regional jobs, tourism, and prosperity.”

Applications for the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant Program are now open. For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.wineaustralia.com/wine-tourism-and-cellar-door-grants