Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

Wine industry strategy released

A strategic plan to guide the future growth of Victoria’s wine industry has been launched by Industry Minister Mark Birrell.

Mr Birrell said the Victorian Wine Industry Association’s (VWIA) Vintage 2003 document would provide the strategic framework for a Victorian industry, which is expected to account for one percent of world wine trade by 2003.

"Victoria’s wine industry has grown rapidly from about 30 wineries in the mid sixties to over 320 today. With so many new entrants there has been a need to develop a vision for the industry to take it into the next century," Mr Birrell said.

Under the strategy, the Victorian wine industry will:

• Grow in value from $700 million to $1 billion
• Expand its annual exports from $150 million to $300 million.
• Expand its annual cellar-door sales from $70 million annually to $120 million, and attract 3.5 million winery visits annually.
• Increase the value of its annual sales into the Australian market from $480 million to $580 million.
• Attract investment in Victorian viticulture, wine production, and winery tourism of at least $650 million.
• Create around 3000 additional jobs.

Mr Birrell said the State Government was a major sponsor of Wine Australia and had initiated Wine Week in a bid to focus attention on the Victorian wine industry.

"There is also an on-going role for government in industry development, through the provision of infrastructure, investment attraction and education and training," Mr Birrell said.

(News Release, Office of the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, June 29, 1999)