Thursday, 22 November 2018 RAISING A GLASS TO VICTORIAN

Victoria’s booming wine industry will be put on the world stage under a re-elected Andrews Labor Government – creating jobs and boosting exports.

Victoria has the largest number of individual wineries in Australia, producing some of the best wine in the world. With an increase in demand for premium wine, Victorian producers are best placed to meet this demand.

To support our producers, Labor will invest $5 million to take our wine to the world, helping boost exports to new markets and cement relationships with existing partners through an annual wine export symposium.

Labor will team up with leading Victorian chefs and restaurateurs to establish a Victorian Wine Showcase to help promote our best wineries.

Trade Missions led by Ministers will also target key markets overseas in the USA and Asia, and a series of marketing campaigns will boost the profile of Victoria’s premium .

The package will put local producers in the box seat to unlock the potential of the Chinese wine market when tariffs on are lifted on 1 January 2019.

The wine industry is crucial to jobs in our regional towns. Nearly 13,000 Victorians work in the wine industry at around 700 businesses – pouring an estimated $7.6 billion into our economy each year.

Growing the profile of Victoria’s wine industry in international markets won’t just help increase exports, it will also grow wine tourism and boost local businesses.

This builds on the Andrews Labor Government’s work to develop the state’s wine industry through the Victorian Wine Industry Development Strategy which was launched last year – backed by the $4 million Wine Growth Fund.

The strategy is helping winemakers capture new opportunities and address on-going trading and production challenges.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford

“Victorians know how good a glass of our wine can be and Labor will make sure the rest of the world does too.”

“We’re home to some of the best wineries in Australia – and only Labor will make sure they’re supported so they can create jobs and double exports by 2030.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Trade and Investment Philip Dalidakis

“Only Labor will back our wine industry so growers and producers can tap into new markets around the world – boosting exports and creating jobs.”

Quote attributable to Labor Candidate for Ripon Sarah De Santis

“Blue produces some of the best wine in the country and we’ll make sure they’re able to continue to grow and take their produce to even more people around the world.”

Media contact: Matt Macklin 0437 793 066 | [email protected]