Wine Australia enters funding partnership with Wine Victoria

Wine Australia and Wine Victoria have entered into a three-year partnership to fund projects supporting the state’s grape and wine sector.

The program combines $540,000 in Victorian Government funding secured by Wine Victoria with $346,667 in co-investment from Wine Australia’s Australian Wine Future Fund (AWFF).

The combined $886,667 will support projects aimed at strengthening the sector’s sustainability, biosecurity preparedness, data-driven decision-making and export capability.

Wine Australia CEO Dr Martin Cole said the partnership would deliver tangible benefits to Victorian grapegrowers and winemakers.

“By working alongside Wine Victoria, we can amplify the reach and impact of existing investments,” he said. “This partnership demonstrates the value of industry collaboration in translating research, technical expertise and market intelligence into practical outcomes for wine businesses.”

The projects will align with Wine Australia’s One Grape & Wine sector plan and will support the delivery of the Victorian Wine Strategy 2025-2030, providing producers with access to practical resources to address the sector’s challenges and opportunities.

Wine Victoria CEO Stephanie Duboudin said: “Victorian wine businesses continue to operate in a rapidly changing environment, with increasing expectations around sustainability, biosecurity, business performance and market competitiveness. This partnership with Wine Australia allows us to build on existing investments and provide industry with practical support, trusted information and accessible tools that help businesses make informed decisions.”

The partnership leverages Wine Australia’s Research & Innovation Fund, part of the AWFF, which attracts co-investment for projects co-designed to deliver practical outcomes for the sector.

Wine Australia expects the Research & Innovation Fund to attract $35 million in investment over the next five years through a mix of Commonwealth matching, federal and state government grants, and partner investments.

The Research & Innovation Fund forms part of the AWFF’s broader $50 million investment target, with the Venture Investments Portfolio targeting $15 million in private capital to address critical innovation gaps.

The AWFF structure is easiest understood through the following Wine Australia infographic: