Wine Exports

Mrs PEARCE (King) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment. How is the Department for Trade and Investment working with organisations such as Australian Grape and Wine to ensure global recognition of South Australia's wine regions while recognising the contribution of our premium wine growers?

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION (Taylor—Minister for Trade and Investment, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Planning) (15:03): I thank the member for King for her question and for her support—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION: —for all those winemakers up in One Tree Hill and across the state. South Australia has some 18 wine regions, over 700 wineries, and 50 per cent of Australia's bottled wine is produced in South Australia from some of the world's oldest vines. There is no doubt that global events over the last few years have really affected the wine industry, but we know that organisations such as Australian Grape and Wine, in concert with the Department for Trade and Investment, have been pivotal in hunting out new markets and diversifying our customer base to ensure that our wines feature prominently on the global stage.

One such program has been the Australian Grape and Wine's establishment of Australian Wine Regional Managers in two of what the state government believes to be our most important emerging wine markets: Japan and South Korea. Australian Grape and Wine commissioned a consumer research project designed to assist the Australian wine sector to grow demand in the diversified international markets.

The report, which is titled 'Uncorking new opportunities for Australian wine in Japan and South Korea', highlights key consumer understandings of the wine beverage category and the perception of Australian wine within these two markets. The insights provide a foundation for Australian wine businesses to better understand the consumer, placing them in a position to reap the benefits of these valuable markets.

I would also like to take this opportunity to briefly recognise the outgoing chief executive, Tony Battaglene, for his contribution and service to the Australian grape and wine industry throughout his tenure.

Mr Whetstone: You don’t even know his name.

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION: I sat next to him at dinner the other night.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION: Earlier this year, I launched the South Australian Wine Ambassadors Club, a fantastic new initiative of the Department for Trade and Investment. We hope that the ambassadors' endorsement will contribute to raising the profile, reputation and awareness of South Australian wine internationally, as well as influencing their communities to drive sales throughout the targeted trade and educational initiatives. With the Premier and the Hon. Don Farrell, senator and the federal Minister for Trade, we look forward to showcasing some of the best South Australian wines at the South Australian Wine Ambassadors Club events in both Japan and South Korea in coming weeks.

For every bottle, there is a story of toil, blood, sweat and tears that we are obviously lucky to capture in the bottles, and this is a story of the vintage and the quality of our industry that we need to sell to the world. Earlier this month, I had the great honour to attend the Australian Grape and Wine's life membership dinner at which the 2022 life member was bestowed their historic membership. It gives me great pleasure to advise the house that the 2022 Australian Grape and Wine life membership was an historic moment for the industry as they awarded life membership upon their first female life member, Jane Mitchell.

Jane Mitchell is truly synonymous with the Clare Valley, having lived and breathed 43 vintages. She has been a constant supporter of the region and a supporter of the virtues of that region, in particular. She was instrumental in initiating the Clare Gourmet Weekend in 1985. She has worked in the Clare Valley that entire time. She was one of the first appointees to the South Australian Tourism Commission. For 12 years, she was on the Australian Regional Winemakers Forum Council, the Winemakers' Federation of Australia executive council, the Australian Wine Export Council and the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation Board. Clearly, her infectious enthusiasm not just for Clare but for Australian winemaking generally has been a real asset to the state.