Eight South Australian wine industry representatives have been selected to travel to other world-renowned wine regions to connect with international experts and explore new ideas and innovations.
The Great Wine Capitals Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary Program gives wine industry professionals, academics and researchers the chance to travel to other wine regions across the globe and share their learnings with the South Australian industry upon their return.
It offers professional development opportunities to strengthen skills, encourage knowledge exchange, and enable insights that benefit South Australia’s wine sector.
Each bursary, valued at $6,000, supports travel to one or more Great Wine Capitals between October 2025 and March 2026. During their travels, recipients will engage with industry, regional and academic experts, sharing insights and gaining knowledge about global practices, sustainability, and innovation in viticulture, winemaking, tourism, and research.
The recipients of 2025–26 Outbound Knowledge Exchange bursaries are:
Recipient Name
Company
Region
Travel Destination
Samantha Scarratt
Vinehealth Australia
Adelaide
San Francisco/Napa Valley, U.S.
Yihe Sui
Adelaide University
Adelaide
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
Sarah Carlson
Adelaide Hills Wine Region
Adelaide Hills
Bordeaux, France
Sarah Lavelle
Sevenhill Cellars
Clare Valley
San Francisco/Napa Valley, U.S.
Hanne Norvag Thomas
Langhorne Creek Grape & Wine Inc.
Langhorne Creek
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
Elaine Ratcliffe
Randall Wine Group – Seppeltsfield Wines
Barossa Valley
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
Tyson Bitter
Treasury Wine Estates
Barossa Valley
Porto, Portugal
Suzanne McLoughlin
Australian Wine Research Institute
Adelaide
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
Through these international exchanges, participants will collaborate with global wine professionals in their chosen destinations to deepen knowledge across viticulture and winemaking.
Samantha Scarratt from Vinehealth Australia was awarded the Viticulture Bursary, sponsored by Wine Australia, to travel to Napa Valley to explore how viticulturists and researchers manage Pierce’s disease.
Yihe (Eva) Sui from the University of Adelaide was awarded the Winemaking Bursary, also sponsored by Wine Australia, to visit Hawke’s Bay to exchange knowledge on wine stability management, focusing on sustainable alternatives to traditional stabilisation methods.
Suzanne McLoughlin from the Australian Wine Research Institute was awarded the bursary from the Wine Grape Council of SA to attend the International Council for the Study of Virus and Virus-Like Diseases in Hawke’s Bay, looking into grapevine virus identification and management.
SA’s Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Clare Scriven, said the state’s wine sector is recognised globally for its “quality, creativity, and collaboration”.
“We have the tools, talent, and vision to lead the way in research, innovation, sustainability, and consumer engagement,” said Minister Scriven. “The Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary Program builds on South Australia’s reputation by giving our industry leaders and researchers the chance to learn from, and contribute to, the world’s best wine regions. It helps ensure our wine industry remains resilient and competitive.
“I congratulate the recipients and look forward to seeing how their experiences abroad inspire new ideas, innovation, and opportunities for our industry here at home.”
Wine Grape Council of South Australia (WGCSA) CEO Lisa Bennier said the organisation was pleased to be supporting Suzanne McLoughlin’s participation in the program.
“Strengthening industry capability in virus identification and management is a critical priority for South Australian growers, and we welcome the opportunity for Suzanne to share her learnings with our members and the broader sector,” said Bennier.
Wine Australia CEO Dr Martin Cole also congratulated the participants, including Yihe Sui and Samantha Scarratt who are supported by Wine Australia.
“Learning from and sharing knowledge with our global wine peers is an important way to grow the capability of our people and to support the broader sector in achieving its aspirations,” said Dr Cole.
“We look forward to hearing about the learnings and opportunities that you have had through this program.”
The Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary Program is made possible through Adelaide’s membership in the Great Wine Capitals Global Network (GWCGN), which brings together 11 internationally renowned wine regions, including Bordeaux and Napa Valley.
The program is supported by the Great Wine Capitals Adelaide Steering Committee, which is a partnership between the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, the SA Wine Industry Association, the South Australian Tourism Commission and the University of Adelaide. Additional bursaries are generously supported by Wine Australia and the Wine Grape Council of SA.
For more information about the Great Wine Capitals Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary Program visit: https://www.adelaidegreatwinecapital.sa.gov.au/industry/outbound_knowledge_exchange
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