Victoria’s wine industry has been given a $720,000 funding boost to increase its market share and improve wine tourism.
The funding, which was awarded under the $1 million Wine Growth Fund (WGF), will support 41 projects across the state’s 21 distinct wine regions and is provided on an equal co-contribution basis.
Announcing the funding support, Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford said 38 of the recommended projects are regionally based, with grants worth more than $677,000 and total project costs valued at close to $3 million.
“With the Grand Final public holiday tomorrow, there has never been a better time to experience regional Victoria, try a nice drop and support our growers,” the Minister said on Thursday.
“We’re proud to be supporting 41 innovative wine industry projects. This investment will support the sustainable growth of some of Victoria’s finest wine growers and producers. Victoria’s premium wine is the envy of the nation – that’s why we’re supporting the industry through our $1 million Wine Growth Fund, to ensure the world continues to demand our products.”
According to the Minister, the successful projects range in scope from developing a wine app in the Alpine Valley, hosting a large scale food and wine event in Central Victoria, website development in the Loddon-Mallee and promoting Chinese wine tourism in the Yarra Valley.
The WGF supports grants of up to $20,000 for individual organisations and $50,000 for collaborative projects. It forms a key part of the Labor Government’s $1 million election commitment to boost the wine industry, which includes the Wine Industry Development Strategy and the formation of the Wine Industry Ministerial Advisory Committee.
Victoria’s wine industry comprises 800 wineries and 3,000 vineyards, employing 12,000 people and generating $1.5 billion each year.
