The South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA) has launched a new brand and digital platform that connects South Australian wine with the global market and strengthens the resources available to the industry.
Designed to support domestic and international marketing, Wine South Australia creates a hub for local winemakers to connect with consumers, trade, government and international partners and tell their story.
SAWIA President, Kirsty Balnaves, says: “South Australia produces some of the world’s most recognised and respected wines, but until now we haven’t had a brand or online shopfront to tell our collective story.
“Wine South Australia captures the generosity and excellence of our wine industry and gives every producer and region a stage – from the largest global brands to the smallest family wineries.”
Developed to work alongside South Australia’s regional websites and the state’s tourism platforms, Wine South Australia showcases the region and its world-class wines through case studies, videos, animations, imagery, and compelling people and place stories by wine writer Katie Spain.
The website also features an interactive map of South Australia’s 18 wine regions, and a dedicated area for consumers to explore the region’s wineries and get to know its winemakers through stories, events and sustainability initiatives.
“This isn’t just about a logo and a website, it’s about lifting the profile of every South Australian wine region and business, and providing a shared brand that our industry can use in Australia and across the globe. SAWIA is simply the custodian – the brand belongs to our wine community,” Balnaves added.
The website is now live at www.winesouthaustralia.com, and will make its overseas debut next week, featuring prominently in South Australian Trade and Investment Minister Joe Szakacs’ North America trade mission, and later being showcased at the Daejeon International Wine Expo in South Korea.
“We know that South Australian wine is among the highest quality in the world, and delivers exceptional value,” Szakacs stated.
“To compete globally and take advantage of emerging opportunities, it is vital that we work together and tell our incredible South Australian story to even more people and markets.
“SAWIA has captured the essence of what makes South Australia’s wine sector so different and special in this new brand. The new online platform will raise awareness of our offering with new customers and provide an opportunity to convert that interest into increased sales.”
SAWIA Chief Executive Inca Lee says the launch of Wine South Australia is just the beginning.
“The Wine South Australia brand will be used in trade missions and events all around Australia and the world. And we will continue to grow the website with new content, stories and functionality. It’s designed to evolve with our industry, just like our businesses do,” he explained.
The project has been funded by the South Australian Government through the Department of State Development, and developed by local creative agency Simple, involving industry stakeholders throughout the process to shape the identity of the platform.
Replacing SAWIA’s current website, the association will also launch a comprehensive industry portal with resources, training, export programs and SAWIA member services.