The national sustainability program for Australia’s grape and wine sector has announced a structural overhaul as it looks to ‘increase clarity, efficiency and responsiveness’ while helping the program to ‘anticipate future needs’.
The changes, which follow recommendations made from an independent governance review, include the introduction of a dedicated Executive Officer, independent Chair, and a skills-based Board. Interested wine professionals are able to apply for the role of independent Chair online here.
Through the changes, Sustainable Winegrowing Australia will have stronger governance, established funding, and committed resourcing, helping the program to deliver value to Australian grapegrowers, winemakers and the broader sector. This includes a focus on improving the ease-of-use and cost-effectiveness of the program for its users.
Industry bodies Australian Grape & Wine, Wine Australia and the Australian Wine Research Institute have backed the changes with a new agreement for 2025 to 2030 strengthening their commitment.
“Sustainability is a strategic imperative for the sector,” says Dr Martin Cole, CEO of Wine Australia. “It is critical to our resilience and competitiveness throughout a changing operational environment that is being driven by climate change and market, consumer and regulatory pressures.”
Managing Director of the Australian Wine Research Institute Dr Mark Krstic adds that the changes to Sustainable Winegrowing Australia will build on its strong foundations as a holistic sustainability program with a rapidly growing membership base.
“Collectively, Sustainable Winegrowing Australia members represent around 70 per cent of Australia’s vineyard area and winery members crushed more than 80 per cent of Australia’s winegrapes this year,” Krstic said.
“There are more than 1,800 members, more than 1,200 of whom are certified through the Program. Sustainable Winegrowing Australia provides a framework of annual self‑assessments, benchmarking against industry data, and independent certification audits that track and verify progress across sustainable practices.”
This is a significant increase from around 1,400 members and 700 certified members in May 2024, as outlined by Dr Mardi Longbottom, interim Executive Officer of the SWA and General Manager of Industry Development Support & Sustainability at the Australian Wine Research Institute, in this Drinks Trade exclusive interview at the time.
The increase in membership has partly come from the onset of major producers such as Casella Family Brands and De Bortoli achieving SWA certification in 2025.
Hill Smith Family Estates’ Oxford Landing, pictured above, is also SWA certified and has launched a Coles Liquor exclusive wine range Regenerate with the goal of educating consumers about the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification. To learn more about this initiative read the soon to be published sustainability in wine feature in Drinks Annual 2026.
As Sustainable Winegrowing Australia recruits a new independent Chair, Board and Executive Officer it will continue to be delivered by the Australian Wine Research Institute, with Dr Mardi Longbottom serving as interim Executive Officer.
According to Lee McLean, CEO of Australian Grape & Wine, the new agreement signed by the three industry bodies will be pivotal “in strengthening and improving the program, supporting its success into the future.”
“Sustainable Winegrowing Australia is fundamental for the sector in continuing to improve its ESG practices and demonstrating its sustainability credentials around the world,” he adds.
Dr Martin Cole concludes: “As a key element of the sector’s sustainability framework, we’re delighted to sign a new joint agreement for Sustainable Winegrowing Australia that will see the Program resourced, strengthened and equipped to support the sector’s current and future needs.”
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