News

Biosecurity is fast becoming an accepted part of any agricultural business. The arrival of Varroa mite late last month, first detected around Newcastle, has fuelled concerns amongst Australia’s almond producers who are predicting that it could cost the industry tens of millions. Varroa mite is an external parasite of honey bees and is considered the …

Following our previous update, Australian Grape & Wine has continued to work with the sector, Government, and international colleagues to advocate on behalf of Australian wine for changes to the proposed UK tax reforms. This included: •             Coordinating Australian wine company responses and agreement on common Australian wine sector messaging; •             Briefing Australian Government Minister’s …

Since the change of Government in Australia’s federal election in May, there has been some interest in the media and within industry around what this could mean for a possible thawing of the political relations between Australia and China. (ABC Article Will the change of Australian government end the trade war with China? illustrates the business …

Several new plant pest detections in Australia highlight why vineyard hygiene and surveillance will become increasingly important in Australian vineyards. We all have a much deeper understanding of the importance of biosecurity and its worth taking the time to think about how this new knowledge might be applied to protecting vine health. If you spot …

The last two years have been tough for many businesses, with rising input costs and Covid. The grape and wine sector has suffered its own set of challenges including the loss of its most significant export market, China. There are many businesses likely to be seeking support to plan for the structural changes ahead as …

Australian Grape & Wine is watching election announcements from all parties closely ahead of polling day on 21 May 2022. From the coalition, we’ve seen a commitment to invest $15 million in cellar door tourism – applying to wine, spirits and craft-brewery businesses. If elected, grants of up to $100,000 in matched funding for small …

If it feels a bit like 2006 again, here is why… According to Wine Australia, as at June 2021, there were 2.1 billion litres of wine in Australian wineries, with sales of only 1.17 billion litres per annum. This is uncannily similar to the situation in June 2006 when inventories were also 2.1 billion litres …

Food Standards Australia – New Zealand (FSANZ) has announced it is undertaking work to consider amending the Food Standards Code to provide energy information on alcoholic beverage labels. This work will progress in tandem with a separate piece of work looking into carbohydrate and sugar claims on alcoholic beverages. Australian Grape & Wine will participate …

On 2 April 2022, the Australian and Indian Governments signed the Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI ECTA). When the AI ECTA enters into force, preferential tariff treatment will be afforded to premium Australian wine imported to India, which currently represents a small portion of Australia’s wine exports. In accordance with the AI ECTA, …

The International environment continues to be challenging. After pandemic-curbing measures around the world cut economic growth in 2020, global GDP rebounded sharply in 2021, spurring consumption and trade. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, global trade value reached a record $28.5 trillion in 2021, up 25 percent from 2020 and up …