Australian wine's economic contribution

About the report

The Economic Contribution Australian Wine Sector 2025 assesses the wine sector’s direct and indirect contribution to the Australian economy in 2025^[1]. The report was prepared for Wine Australia by AgEconPlus and Gillespie Economics.

The Australian wine sector contributes to the economy through three main activities:

• grape growing
• wine production
• wine-related tourism

These activities are closely connected to other parts of the economy, including businesses that supply goods and services and the spending of employees. As a result, the sector’s total economic contribution extends beyond its direct impact.

The report is structured as follows:

• Section 2 outlines the geographic distribution and structure of the wine sector
• Section 3 describes the input–output modelling used to assess economic impacts
• Section 4 profiles revenue, expenditure and employment across the sector
• Section 5 presents the flow-on economic effects
• Section 6 provides conclusions

Report Summary

The Australian wine sector operates across all states, with South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria accounting for the largest share of wine grape production.

Grape growing

• 5,408 wine grape growers (estimated, 2024)
• 146,244 hectares of vineyards
• $994 million in gross wine grape sales

Wine production

• Wine is Australia’s fifth largest agricultural export industry
• 2,156 wineries (estimated, 2024)
• 1.04 billion litres of wine produced
• $5.7 billion in gross value to winemakers

Wine tourism

• 7.5 million winery visits (year ending December 2024)
• $11.6 billion total trip expenditure by visitors who included a winery visit
• $1,487 average spend per trip

Wine tourists typically spend more than average travellers, contributing strongly to regional economies.

Economic contribution

Analysis of grape growing, wine production and wine tourism shows the sector delivers significant direct and flow-on benefits to the Australian economy:

• Supports 203,392 full-time and part-time jobs
• Generates $15 billion in income
• Contributes $51.3 billion in gross output
• Adds $25.4 billion in value to the economy

^{[1] Using 2024/25 data where this is available and the most recent alternative where it is not. For example, ABS Regional Employment data is from calendar year 2021.}

About the source

Research project commissioned by Wine Australia and undertaken by AgEcon Plus and Gillespie Economics.