Wine Australia hosts leader summit over concerns for the sector

A result of concerns about the current state of the wine industry, Australia's top wine industry CEOs and MDs met earlier this month to discuss a collaborative approach to the crisis.

A statement from Wine Australia said years of accumulating challenges, including inflationary pressures, significant tariffs, shipping delays, an imbalance in supply and demand and COVID-19, were contributing factors to the sector's current state.

Martin Cole, CEO of Wine Australia, said that the industry has a collective responsibility to inspire change, stating that he's optimistic about the opportunities ahead for the diverse and talented sector.

"There's power in collaboration and we've been working to bring the sector together and identify areas of common interest, and areas for innovation.

"This is just one of the ways we're engaging with groups across the sector to respond to the myriad of challenges and opportunities we're facing," he said.

The four major themes of the meeting were:
1. Future proofing our supply base
2. Enhancing the quality, value and image of our wines
3. Meeting the requirements of our markets for environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) standards
4. Meeting the needs of our consumers through product innovation.

"We'll have a greater impact by working together…and I hope the leadership of these companies encourages other people to get involved," said Cole.

The statement from Wine Australia said a small group of "custodians" from within the summit would take responsibility for bringing the action to life.

"Most importantly, we are all aligned on the importance of taking shared responsibility for driving the health of our sector, so we will continue to come together to ensure these conversations turn into tangible actions," the statement concluded.

The signees include:
Andrew Calabria, Calabria Family Wines
Bob Berton, Berton Vineyards
Dean Carroll, Brown Family Wine Group
John Casella, Casella Family Brands
Darren De Bortoli, De Bortoli
Andrew Forbes, Zilzie Wines
Tim Ford, Treasury Wine Estates
Bryan Fry, Pernod Ricard Winemakers
Craig Garvin, Australian Vintage Limited
Karl Martin, Hill-Smith Family Estates
Bill Moularadellis, Kingston Estate Wines
Brigid Nolan, The Wine Group
Ed Peter, Duxton Vineyards
Martin Cole, Wine Australia
Lee McLean, Australian Grape & Wine
John Hart, Australian Grape & Wine

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