Five Barossa Valley wineries have been granted almost $140,000 in funding to help them market their premium wines to overseas clients.
Minister for Investment and Trade Martin Hamilton-Smith said the Export Partnership Program is helping small to medium sized businesses take their products to international markets.
“The Export Partnership Program is part of a targeted strategy by the State Government to support local companies to build their export capability,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.
“Successful recipients use the funding to increase their knowledge and further their export capabilities through training, marketing, or participation in trade missions and trade shows overseas to market their products.”
Five Barossa Valley-based wineries have received funding in the past two rounds:
Round 1: Barossa Vintage Pty Ltd – $31,000; Elderton Wines – $31,225; Pindarie Wines – $30,075. Round 2: Hentley Farm Wines – $25,000; WD Wines – $21,878.
“I congratulate the successful companies for putting forward strong business cases in order to gain assistance in pursuing global opportunities,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.
“South Australian wine has established a niche market overseas, but to appreciate its unique qualities it needs to be introduced to new markets individually so importers and customers can build an understanding of what makes wines like these special.
“This is also about helping companies gain access to the right tools and support to grow and build international networks that can often be financially challenging to access.
“State Government TradeStart advisers have been working closely with companies to build their business case for export markets. I strongly encourage small to medium sized enterprises to get in contact with their local TradeStart official through the Department of State Development to begin their path into international economies.”
Hentley Farm Wines Managing Director Keith Hentschke said the grant provides a strong incentive to go overseas and build markets, which might not otherwise appreciate the unique qualities that set South Australian premium wines apart.
“The opportunities for exports are enormous, but we need to spend more time and more money explaining to overseas markets the special characteristics of our wines – such as the fact they are single estate, low yield, stored in expensive oak barrels and why these premium products cost more,” Mr Hentschke said.
“We need to be out there storytelling, explaining how nearly all our wines are not only made from a single estate, but from single blocks, and that this produces unique characteristics different to wines grown from blocks only 20 metres apart.
“Currently, exports are restricted and inhibited by the time, money and effort required to be in overseas markets.
“This grant will help with our plans to attend trade shows, upgrade our marketing material and travel to markets including China, Taiwan, France and the US and Canada.”