Wine

South Australia produces more than half of all Australian wine exports and is the world’s seventh largest wine producer.

The State’s exuberant wine sector has helped to position Australia as the largest exporter of wine outside France, Italy and Spain.

South Australia is the centre of the Australian wine industry and takes a lead role in growing wine grapes, manufacturing or blending wine, wine testing and wine bottling.

Our climate is perfectly suited to wine production, with reliable rainfall, warm summer conditions and good soil conditions. 

Overview
Investment and business opportunities exist in research and development of wine grape growing and new wine varieties, wine waste management, transport and logistics, land use planning, salinity management, wine-related tourism and services to the wine industry.

Output
• $812 million wine gate production in 2003-04.
• $608 million worth of wine grapes crushed in 2006.
• 904,022 tonnes of wine grapes produced in 2006 
• 689.2 million litres of wine produced in 2005, representing 49% of the Australian total.
• 43% of Australia’s vineyard area in 2005.

 
Source: IBIS World Australia 2006, Wine Manufacturing in Australia (change graph title to read SA’s wine production)

Exports
• $1.7 billion wine exports in 2006-07.  
• 20% of total State goods exports. 
• 29% growth since 2001-02.
• 399 million litres of wine exported in 2004-05. 
• Key export markets are the UK, USA, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, and Japan.

 
Source: ABS

Employment
• 11,960 people employed in 2001-02.

Workforce Information Service

Research and development
• Home to Australia’s National Wine Centre and to world-leading research and education programs in viticulture and wine science.

Geographic focus
• Wineries are concentrated in three key locations: the south-east of South Australia - around Coonawarra; north of Adelaide - in the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley; and in regions surrounding Adelaide - including the Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale.

Industry groups
Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation
Australian Wine Research Institute
Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation
Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board of South Australia
South Australian Wine Industry Association
The Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology
Winemakers’ Federation of Australia
Winery Engineering Association

Case studies
Jacob’s Creek
Hardy Wine Company
Upper Murray Case Supplies