Wine industry releases roadmap to recovery

A plan to help the wine sector recover has been released by Australian Grape & Wine and Wine Australia following extensive consultation. The One Grape & Wine Sector Plan “provides the framework for collaborative and coordinated action”, they said.

Australian Grape & Wine CEO, Lee McLean, said the plan provided a roadmap for achieving the sector’s goals and vision articulated in Vision 2050, charting a “clear path of action and reflects the sector’s resilience and commitment to forge a vibrant and prosperous future”.

“The plan provides greater linkages to existing plans, such as Vision 2050, demonstrates stronger industry leadership, collaboration and coordination, and provides practical action and guidance for all.

“Grapegrowers, winemakers, exporters, industry associations, researchers, business and suppliers have shared their views, insights, aspirations, concerns and expectations on the challenges and opportunities for the sector,” McLean said.

The roadmap outlines six themes:

1. Our place and product
2. Our consumers, customers and community
3. Our markets
4. Our sustainability
5. Our people, and
6. Our systems and infrastructure.

Wine Australia CEO, Dr Martin Cole, said it was time to “collectively recalibrate the path to sector prosperity”.

“The breadth of the Australian grape and wine sector is its strength; from family-owned grapegrowers, commercial and premium winemakers, to vertically integrated businesses and corporates.

“The strength of the plan lies in our ability to share the load to optimise the opportunities ahead,” Cole said.

“But success is dependent on action: collaboration and shared responsibility, to learn from the past, acting on the challenges of today, to set the course for sector success.”