The Andrews Labor Government is driving even more tourists, connoisseurs and locals to the Wyndham region through its support of Victoria’s wine industry.

Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford launched the Wine Industry Development Strategy and round two of the Wine Growth Fund to support initiatives by businesses, organisations and individuals to develop the Victorian wine industry.

The four year wine strategy provides a pathway to enable Victoria’s wine industry to capture new opportunities and address challenges the industry has experienced in trading and production over the past decade:

• adaptation to business and production challenges;
• increasing tourist numbers and expenditure in Victorian wine regions;
• developing profitable and sustainable export markets; and
• increasing industry coordination.

The strategy is backed by the Labor Government’s Wine Growth Fund which supports and provides innovative growers and businesses with funding for projects from the vineyard to the cellar door.

The second round of the Wine Growth Fund will see a total of $893,000 available across the state.

Victoria’s wine industry plays a vital role in regional and rural economies, directly contributing an estimated $7.6 billion to the Victorian economy and directly employing nearly 13,000 people.

The Victorian Wine Industry Development Strategy 2017-2021, the Wine Growth Fund and appointment of the Wine Industry Ministerial Advisory Committee are the result of the Labor Government’s $1 million election commitment to develop the state’s wine industry.

Information on the Wine Growth Fund can be found at  http://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/investment-and-trade/wine-growth-fund

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford 

“Victoria’s wine is among the world’s best, producing a broad range of wine styles in unique and diverse geographic settings, making it well placed for a successful future.”

Quotes attributable to Tim Pallas MP

“The Wine Industry Development Strategy and the Wine Growth Fund recognise the important role of the Victorian wine industry in regional and rural economies and will help assist local businesses to capture new opportunities.”

“I encourage all innovative Werribee growers and businesses involved in the wine industry to apply for funding for projects from the vineyard to the cellar door.”