As part of its five-year strategic plan Wine Australia has announced the creation of the Australian Wine Future Fund, a $50m initiative aimed at strengthening the long-term competitiveness of the Australian wine sector through targeted investment, co-investment, and enhanced government matching.
The fund is designed to unlock new Commonwealth Government matching funds by extending eligibility beyond traditional levy contributions. Under the revised model, Wine Australia will be able to attract matched funding on third-party cash investments from industry partners and service providers into Wine Australia-led programs.
The fund will operate through two distinct streams over five years:
- Research & Innovation Fund: With a target of $35m, this stream will focus on collaborative projects with research institutions, industry partners, and service providers. The aim is to deliver commercially relevant R&D outcomes through co-designed programs, guided by open procurement principles and a strong emphasis on sector benefit and adoption.
- Venture Capital Fund: Targeting $15m this component will address critical innovation gaps through strategic investment. Wine Australia plans to engage with private investors and partner with a venture fund manager to attract capital and manage the fund, supporting projects that offer high-impact, scalable solutions for the wine sector.
The Australian Wine Future Fund is intended to complement, not replace, existing levy-funded research and innovation activities. It will provide an additional avenue to translate research into real-world outcomes for grape and wine businesses, while also offering the potential to top up traditional projects with additional investment.
By broadening its funding base and encouraging public-private partnerships, Wine Australia aims to create new pathways for innovation, commercialisation, and capability development across the industry.