With Australia’s wine sector continuing to grapple with an oversupplied global market and declining consumption, Riverland Wine is calling on its members to reassess their business strategies as the 2026 vintage approaches.
In a message to local growers and producers, the region’s peak wine industry body has warned that grape demand and pricing are unlikely to improve in the near future. The organisation is urging stakeholders to make “informed, rational and potentially tough decisions” as economic pressures mount.
Riverland Wine General Manager, Alex Cannon-Leyson, said discussions with major wine companies purchasing Riverland grapes have reinforced a bleak forecast for next season.
“With the expectation that water prices and other input costs will also increase during the growing season ahead, the immediate future looks very challenging for many of the local growers and wine businesses,” she said.
The situation comes as global wine surpluses continue to suppress demand and pricing, with structural oversupply weighing heavily on Australian producers.
“Riverland Wine cannot provide advice on case-by-case situations, but we can help collate information and present measured and unbiased facts, allowing growers and wineries to make balanced business decisions,” Cannon-Leyson added.
The organisation is advising growers to initiate conversations early with their grape buyers and consider reaching out to water brokers, irrigation trusts, and financial advisers to evaluate their options.
“If you are a grape grower, start by talking to the wineries that buy your grapes and then consider talking to other key business stakeholders – like your irrigation trust or water broker, service providers, fertiliser and chemical suppliers and potentially seek professional financial advice,” she said.
Meanwhile, wineries are being encouraged to communicate clearly and promptly with their grower base to set expectations around pricing and demand. “If you are a winery, consider engaging with your grower base as soon as practically possible, to provide clear direction on price and demand,” said Cannon-Leyson.
Even those not directly involved in the wine supply chain are being called upon to play a role in supporting the region. “If you reside in the Riverland, and are not directly impacted by the wine industry, you can still support the sector by drinking locally grown Riverland wines,” she said.
To further support the local industry through this period, Riverland Wine will host an Industry Insights event on Thursday, July 24, at the Berri Hotel. The forum will bring together key stakeholders to share regional outlooks and provide members with the tools to make informed business decisions ahead of Vintage 2026.