Wine Industry

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:58): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister inform the chamber about another outstanding global achievement in our state's incredible local wine industry?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:58): I thank the honourable member for his question. South Australia produces 80 per cent of Australia's premium wine and has 300 incredible cellar doors across the state. As South Australians, we are well aware how fortunate we are to have some of the world's premium wine regions in our own backyard, and it is always a pleasure to speak in this chamber about the many and frequent achievements of the South Australian wine industry on the national and world stage. I am pleased again to be doing so today.

McLaren Vale's Maxwell Wines has been crowned a global winner at the recent Great Wine Capitals 2026 Global Best of Wine Tourism Awards in Bordeaux, France. The Great Wine Capitals global network of world-leading wine regions include: Bordeaux, France; Bilbao-Rioja, Spain; Hawke's Bay, New Zealand; Lausanne, Switzerland; Mainz-Rheinhessen, Germany; Mendoza, Argentina; Porto, Portugal; San Francisco, Napa Valley, the USA; Valparaiso, Casablanca Valley, Chile; Verona, Italy; and, of course, Adelaide, South Australia.

To win any award against wineries from renowned regions such as these—internationally renowned regions—demonstrates a world-class offering and Maxwell Wines has now etched its name alongside some of the great wineries of the world which have won a Global Best of Wine Tourism award. Judges for the prestigious award praised Maxwell Wines for raising the bar for culinary experiences in its cellar door, making its three-hatted dining accessible with the evolution of its snack menu, which sits perfectly alongside wine tasting experiences.

Six other Best of Wine Tourism award winners were also recognised on the global stage at the awards: for accommodation, Mount Lofty House, Adelaide Hills; architecture and landscape, Vinteloper, Adelaide Hills; art and culture, Wonderground Barossa; innovative wine tourism experiences, Bottle Shock, Adelaide Hills; wine tourism services, SA eBikes, McLaren Vale; sustainable wine tourism practices, Bottle Shock, Adelaide Hills; and, of course, Maxwell Wines which went on to take the Global Prize for Culinary Experiences.

Each of the six local category winners is in the running for the Global People's Choice Award, which will be open to public voting later this month. Congratulations to the local category winners. It is incredible to be recognised amongst your peers when we have such an incredible and world-class wine industry in our state.

I also want to take a moment to congratulate Ms Jo Collins, PIRSA's Executive Director of Industry Strategy and Partnerships, who was unanimously elected President of the Global Wine Network for the next two years. Jo has worked tirelessly over a long period of time championing our wine industry and will bring a great deal of passion and knowledge to the role of president. It is wonderful to see a South Australian leading from the front globally in such an important sector for our state. Once again, congratulations to Jeremy Maxwell and the entire Maxwell Wines team for your outstanding achievement on the world stage.