New regional wine body launched

SUNRAYSIA commercial wine producers have joined forces with producers from NSW’s Riverina and South Australia’s Riverland to form a new representative body.

The Australian Commercial Wine Producers Limited (ACWP) has been created for a “12-month trial”, according to documents from the Riverland Wine Industry Development Council (RWIDC).

The body will represent producers responsible for 70 per cent of the nation’s wine production.

RWIDC executive chair Chris Byrne said at the council’s July meeting the organisation was created in response to a number of “disappointments” the council had seen with membership numbers and finances.

“We have witnessed another year of too many member resignations,” Mr Byrne said.

“We have maintained a solid financial reserve, but we have not accrued a $1 million reserve as had been our aim.

“We have not ‘shifted the dials’ to the point where every vineyard and every winery is better off. There have been improvements, but we are not where we want to be,” he said.

This year marked the 20th anniversary of a difficult period for the industry, Mr Byrne said.

“(2001) signalled the beginning of the regional plunge into debt and the beginning of the millennial drought.

“It was truly a watershed year for our industry; the beginning of almost two decades of heart-breaking struggles for many, high-risk decisions for most and a real test of the often-used word, resilience.”

The organisation aims “to raise the profile of the inland regions and influence beneficial policies to that will lead to growth in markets and growth in the value of every vineyard and winery, according to a July 15 Riverland Wine meeting that ratified the initiative.

“This is a bold move, not unlike the RWGA (Riverland Winegrape Growers Association) move several years ago, to initiate the formation of the Inland Wine Regions Alliance (IWRA) – a move that’s united the Murray Valley, Riverland and Riverina growers around challenges and policies that affect us all.

“(The group will) work with industry peak bodies and (seek) to influence policy outcomes that will improve the returns on the investments of all growers and wine producers.”

Mr Byrne has accepted the role of chief executive of the ACWP, relinquishing his executive role at RWIDC but retaining the chairmanship of the council.