No-Alcohol and Low-Alcohol Wine Research Facility

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:08): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister inform the chamber about the progress of the trial-scale research facility that supports the development of the no and low-alcohol wine sector in South Australia?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:08): I thank the honourable member for his question and his ongoing interest in this developing market. Excitingly for the wine sector, the first batch of South Australian wineries have accessed the low and no-alcohol trial-scale production facility for new product development, with some promising results. Members may recall that back in April this facility was officially opened at the University of Adelaide Waite campus through an investment of $1.98 million from the state government.

The trial-scale production facility enables South Australian wine businesses to access both the equipment and, importantly, also the expertise to develop new, high-quality, no or low-alcohol wine products. I am advised that there has been strong industry engagement with the facility and that bookings by industry to undertake new product development are in place through to the end of the year and beyond.

I am also advised that we are close to seeing the first products developed at the facility to be launched commercially into the marketplace. The Australian Wine Research Institute, along with the University of Adelaide and PIRSA, will be hosting a webinar on Monday 27 November to share some of the early learnings and outcomes from the facility.

I commend the work of the University of Adelaide and the Australian Wine Research Institute in supporting industry to diversify their product ranges and meet the increasing trends of consumers who are looking for lower and no-alcohol wines. Indeed, no and low-alcohol wine represents a strong new product growth opportunity for the South Australian wine industry, as businesses seek to diversify product offering to meet the demands of the modern consumer and gain market share.

In an exciting development for the NoLo project, a consortium of businesses, led by Australian Vintage Limited who are leaders in no and low-alcohol wine production, were awarded a Cooperative Research Centres project grant of $3 million by the commonwealth government. This grant, which leverages the original South Australian investment in the facility, will ensure researchers are equipped with the resources they need to unlock solutions to the sensory challenges created by removing alcohol from wine. I commend all of those involved and look forward to seeing further outcomes from this exciting project.