How it works
The Australian Wine Future Fund will work through two complementary streams to raise an additional $50 million over 5 years to 2030.
Research & Innovation Fund
A target of $35 million over 5 years.
Building on Wine Australia’s investment priorities in the Wine Australia Strategic Plan 2025–30, the Research & Innovation Fund’s co-investment model works in partnership with research organisations, private sector, state governments and industry representative associations, funding co‑designed projects that deliver practical outcomes for vineyard performance, product innovation, sustainability and production efficiency. These investments will complement – not replace – existing levy‑funded research. The Research & Innovation Fund is also intentionally pursuing strategically aligned grants, with or without Wine Australia co-funding.
Venture Investments Portfolio
A target of $15 million over 5 years.
Wine Australia has partnered with Tenacious Ventures to find, fund and support companies building impactful solutions. Under the Venture Investments Portfolio, Wine Australia will invest $2.5 million of non-levy funds alongside Tenacious Ventures’ existing funds and other investors towards a combined target of $15 million over 5 years.
The Venture Investments Portfolio will back early-stage, high-quality, technology-driven companies with the potential to transform viticulture and wine production and strengthen the long-term resilience of the Australian grape and wine sector. Wine Australia will maintain autonomy of investments, to ensure they align with industry priorities and Impact objectives, embedding sustainability and capability building at the core of operations and translating research into commercially viable innovation.
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Improving environmental sustainability, profitability and competitiveness of the WA wine industry
Improving environmental sustainability, profitability and competitiveness of the WA wine industry The Research & Innovation Fund was implemented to support the improvement of environmental sustainability, profitability and competitiveness of the Western Australia wine industry. Through co-investment with Wines of Western Australia and the Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), the Research & Innovation fund has led to the appointment of an industry engagement officer to drive the adoption of sustainable practices in vineyards and wineries. It has also renewed support for the sustainability and industry project manager to improve sustainability initiatives, conduct a lightweight glass campaign and relocate the Western Australia Vine Improvement Association germplasm collection. This co-investment aligns with both the One Grape & Wine Sector Plan and the Wine Australia Strategic Plan 2025–30 as it supports the advancement of sustainability and emissions reduction goals, innovation and the extension of key information to support practice change.
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Improvements to Sustainable Winegrowing Australia
The Research & Innovation Fund is being implemented to support efficiency improvements to Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. Working with Australian Grape & Wine and the Australian Wine Research Institute, the Research & Innovation Fund co-invests the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia membership fees to accelerate changes to the program in line with Governance Review recommendations that include appropriate oversight, governance, committed resourcing and a focus on how to drive continuous improvement of the ease of use and cost effectiveness of the program. Sustainable Winegrowing Australia supports the sector’s priorities within the One Grape & Wine Sector Plan and the Wine Australia Strategic Plan 2025–30 as it provides the national framework, data, certification and continuous improvement mechanisms that help growers and wineries measure, verify, and improve their environmental and social performance to support the sector to achieve its ESG goals.