Australian Grape and Wine represents the biosecurity interests of wine grape producers and the industry. They are members of Plant Health Australia and signatories to the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed. Their responsibilities include:
- biosecurity planning and implementation at the national and farm levels
- liaising with federal and state governments on trade issues
- funding and supporting biosecurity initiatives
- participating in national committees and response efforts in an emergency.
Industry overview
In 2018–19, the Australian wine grape industry was valued at $961 million (LVP). The value of Australian wine exports was $2.95 billion.
The wine industry has a significant footprint in Australia, with more than 6,000 wine grape growers, a vineyard area of 146,128 hectares, and 2,400 Australian wine producers blending grapes into wine. The most grown wine grape varieties are Shiraz (30%), Cabernet Sauvignon (18%) and Chardonnay (16%). The major varieties by colour are Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for reds and Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon for whites.
The Australian wine industry has been fortunate to date in avoiding many of the world’s most devastating grape vine pests and as a result possesses some of the oldest vineyards in the world. Australia remains free from Xylella fastidiosa, and the industry continues to work hard to manage the spread of phylloxera. Australian grape and wine producers enjoy an enviable global reputation for producing high quality wines.
Australian Grape and Wine promotes biosecurity within the sector and the viticulture industry more broadly. Its Wine Biosecurity Committee provides a mechanism to coordinate and prioritise biosecurity work across the wine sector and to promote leadership. Australian Grape and Wine has worked to improve the sector’s capacity to respond to a pest or disease incursion through emergency response planning and training for industry personnel Australia-wide.
In 2019 Hort Innovation and Wine Australia jointly funded the national Xylella preparedness initiative, funding a coordinator to manage cross-sectoral preparedness, act in a liaison role for potentially affected sectors, and ensure there is national awareness and coordination of high-priority RD&E to develop diagnostic tools, technologies, and protocols to screen plant material entering the country and to support active surveillance programs.
Value of production and distribution
Annual value of wine grape production, 2008–19
Distribution of wine grape production by state and territory, 2018–19 (based on LVP)
Biosecurity plans, manuals and resources
Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Viticulture Industry
Biosecurity planning provides a mechanism for the viticulture industry, government and other relevant stakeholders to assess current biosecurity practices and future biosecurity needs. Planning identifies procedures that can be put in place to reduce the chance of pests reaching our borders or minimise the impact if a pest incursion occurs.
The Biosecurity Plan for the Viticulture Industry provides a framework for biosecurity risk mitigation measures in the industry. For a copy, please contact PHA on 02 6215 7700 or email admin@phau.com.au.
Click here for more information about planning.
Vineyard Biosecurity Manual
The Vineyard Biosecurity Manual contains information to help producers to implement biosecurity on-farm. Manuals usually contain an overview of biosecurity, fact sheets to identify the high priority pests of a crop, tips on crop management, and how to manage people, vehicles and equipment to minimise biosecurity risks.
Manuals also contain a biosecurity self-assessment list, and templates to record pest surveillance records and visitors. More information about on-farm biosecurity for both plant and livestock producers is available from the Farm Biosecurity website.
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