Legislative Council Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Great Wine Capitals Industry Forum Great Wine Capitals Industry Forum The Hon. T.T. NGO Legislative Council Great Wine Capitals Industry Forum The Hon. T.T. NGO (14:38): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister update the chamber on the 2022 Great Wine Capitals industry forum? The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister for Forest Industries Great Wine Capitals Industry Forum The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:38): I thank the honourable member for his question and his ongoing interest in industries, particularly in our regional areas. I am very pleased to advise the chamber that on 18 August I attended the 2022 Great Wine Capitals industry forum. As members would be aware, the wine industry plays a critical role: in South Australia it drives tourism and employment throughout our regions and, according to the annual PIRSA scorecard for 2020-21, the South Australian wine industry generated $2.8 billion in revenue. Our 3,250 grapegrowers and 680 wineries directly employ over 8,400 South Australians and many more across the supply chain. The Malinauskas Labor government is proud to support Adelaide's membership of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network. Membership to this prestigious network is an important positioning statement for the South Australian wine sector, rightly recognising our contribution of excellence in wine production, in destination tourism, in research and development and also in education on a global level. Of equal importance, this initiative is an important strategic international partnership to support collaboration across the wine sector locally and on a global level. In a domestic context, South Australia produces 80 per cent of all premium wine and more than half of all bottled wine made in Australia. South Australia has over 340 cellar doors, 200 of which are within an hour's drive from the Adelaide CBD, but I would also note that those that are further afield, including in the South-East, are well worth the extra time to get there. Adelaide is home to the National Wine Centre and all national industry representative and research bodies, including Wine Australia, Australian Grape and Wine, and the Australian Wine Research Institute. I understand that at any one time we have nearly a billion bottles of wine on dining tables and in cellars around the globe with South Australia's name, regions and brands on them, which is definitely, I would suggest, an incredible statistic and an impressive one. As you can see, it is not just one thing that stands out that makes the South Australian wine industry great, it is the sum of all these great parts that sets South Australia apart from the rest of the country and firmly places us alongside the world's great wine-producing regions as a Great Wine Capital of the World. This is something which we should all be immensely proud of. Supporting South Australia's wine industry is a network of industry bodies, regional associations, research and development institutions and world-class education facilities. Educating our wine sector's current and future participants is vital to its ongoing success, and South Australia is so fortunate to be supported by two world-class institutions, both of which are partners in our Great Wine Capitals membership. The University of South Australia and the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science have changed many of our business, management and marketing professionals, who are driving the success of South Australia's wine businesses. The University of Adelaide's School of Agriculture, Food and Wine is Australia's premier education and research school for viticulture and oenology and is also complemented by the Adelaide Business School's Wine Business program. These institutions are a powerful vehicle for collaboration across the Great Wine Capitals Global Network. South Australia has an enviable global reputation for innovation, research and development across the grape and wine industry. The Great Wine Capitals industry event was a useful and informative event and I look forward to being involved in future events such as this.