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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-11-07 Daily Xml
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Great Wine Capitals

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (14:43): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister update the house on the international guests in South Australia this week for the Great Wine Capitals Global Network AGM?

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (14:43): I can, and I thank the member for MacKillop for his question. I know how lucky he is to have one of the great wine regions of the world. I would also like to apologise on behalf of the weather. The Great Wine Capitals delegates were not able to visit Coonawarra due to weather situations yesterday. Sadly, they were not able to visit and taste some of the great cabernets and other varieties they have in Coonawarra.

What I can say is that on Sunday the Premier and I welcomed the 10 delegates on behalf of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network. I note that the Premier was able to speak in—I lost count at five—close to six languages. He had them in awe that he was able to talk in a number of languages and relate to them.

I acknowledge the previous minister for bringing the Great Wine Capitals to South Australia. It was a great initiative. Well done. We currently have about 100 wine delegates and industry enthusiasts from around the world here in South Australia this week as part of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network AGM: San Francisco/the Napa Valley in the US, Bordeaux in France, Bilbao in Spain, Lausanne in Switzerland, Mainz in Germany, Mendoza in Argentina, Porto in Portugal, the Casablanca Valley in Chile and of course Verona in Italy. But front and centre is the South Australian wine industry.

Congratulations to all the wine regions in South Australia that are currently showcasing what we do so well here. It's one of our largest export opportunities. It is an economy driver: 70 per cent of the nation's premium wine comes out of South Australia. What I can say is that our local wine and tourism industry are networking with the global wine tourist leaders. Presidents and CEOs from across the Great Wine Capitals are enjoying some of the great hospitality and wines that we have to offer.

This week, they have been immersing themselves in some of the wine regions—the Adelaide Hills, the Barossa, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale, and of course the Riverland. What I have witnessed is a real want to work together, not as competitors; it's about knowledge sharing. It's about the industry collaborating, coming together and dealing with biosecurity, dealing with the academic exchange, and dealing with one of the great underpinners of the wine industry, which is tourism.

The program includes delegates taking part in the 'New World. Old World. Our World. Conference' at the Yalumba Signature Cellar wine-tasting event. Delegates have visited a number of famous wineries, such as Seppeltsfield, Wirra Wirra, Gemtree, Banrock Station, Magill Estate, d'Arenberg and Skilogalee. Yesterday, the delegates were in the Riverland and they experienced something they have never experienced anywhere else in the wine world: they were able to visit wineries, vineyards, by boat. They were able to travel from Banrock up to Caudo Vineyard, and they said it was a unique experience; they have never experienced it anywhere else in the world.

I think that, apart from all our premium wine regions and experiences, South Australia never ceases to amaze the wine world. As I said, delegates were in the Riverland yesterday, but what they were able to do was go and visit some of the Byrne Vineyards, Ricca Terra Farms—some of the great new ways that wines are now being blended in field. It's not about winemakers blending in the winery; they are now growing integrated rows of vines with different varieties, creating new blends.

That is one of the great phenomena of this visiting delegation. Last night, I know that the Premier visited the network and they were astounded at his capacity to engage—

The SPEAKER: The minister's time has expired. Member for Kaurna.

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