Global showcase of South Australian wine
Adelaide, SA activities in 2024 as part of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network
New cohort of Best Of Wine Tourism Award winners
6 outstanding SA wineries named
Presented at the South Australian Wine Industry Dinner at Adelaide's National Wine Centre, the Best Of Wine Tourism Awards celebrated innovation and excellence in wine tourism. The award winners will be profiled throughout the year for their significant contributions to South Australian wine tourism. Thank you to the well-respected judging panel of Tony Love, Helen Edwards AM and Nick Ryan. Read about the winners.
South Australian winery wins global award
Dandelion Vineyards recognised in international competition
Dandelion Vineyards in McLaren Vale was internationally recognised for its incredible architecture and its innovative design which connects guests to the beautiful surrounds at the prestigious 2025 Great Wine Capitals Global Best Of Wine Tourism Awards at Verona in Italy. Owners Elena and Zar Brooks accepted the award from the Hon Clare Scriven MLC, Minister for Primary Industries and Regions, and the Hon Zoe Bettison MP, Minister for Tourism, at a ceremony at Parliament House in Adelaide. Read about the global award.
“Zar and I are absolutely delighted to receive this prestigious award…This recognition is a testament to the hard work of our team and our shared commitment to showcasing the best of our region through both our wines and the environment we’ve created.” – Elena Brooks, Dandelion Vineyards
Learning from other Great Wine Capitals
Hearing from past Outbound Knowledge Exchange bursary recipients
About 60 representatives from across the South Australian wine industry got together to listen to ideas gathered from around the world for growth and innovation in the SA wine production and tourism industry. The insights were presented by the 8 recipients of the 2023 Great Wine Capitals Outbound Knowledge Exchange bursaries, who travelled to other Great Wine Capitals to exchange expertise. Listening to their presentations was like taking a trip around the world, from the comfort of the National Wine Centre. The stories bounced from Bordeaux to Napa to Cape Town and back. They covered topics from addressing diseases, pests, and biosecurity, to sustainability, place and water regulations, through to shifting consumer tastes and expectations, cellar door offerings, wine tourism services, and more. Watch their key takeaways and ideas for growth and innovation in the SA wine industry.
South Australian Shiraz on show in Bordeaux
The French exhibition hosted 25,000 visitors
Shiraz from 16 South Australian producers was showcased on the global stage at the La Cité du Vin’s Via Sensoria exhibition. Visitors to the internationally recognised wine museum were offered sommelier-guided Shiraz tastings surrounded by autumnal images and sounds to provide a full sensory experience. Producers included d’Arenberg, Kalleske Wines, Patritti Wines, Ochota Barrels, Dandelion Vineyards, Pindarie Wines, Heirloom Vineyards, Rymill Coonawarra, Yalumba, RedHeads Wine, Serafino Wines, Anderson Hill, Thistledown Wines, Saint-Clar Estate, Penley Estate and Brash Higgins. SA producers were also showcased in the museum’s Belvedere Room which people can enjoy at the end of their visit to the permanent exhibition and offers 360 degree views of the city. They included: Patritti Wines, Dandelion Vineyards, Serafino Wines, Alkina Wine Estate and Mitolo. The museum hosted an incredible 414,000 visitors from over 180 countries in 2024 alone.
SA researcher wins international grant
UniSA postdoc researcher will explore agritourism
Dr Jessica Mei Pung was one of only two grant recipients from around the world. She will use the grant to explore how agritourism can be used to diversify and extend the offerings of wine businesses in Adelaide, South Australia and Verona, Italy - both of which are part of the prestigious Great Wine Capitals Global Network. The research grant aims to promote excellence and innovation in wine tourism research, addressing industry needs and fostering collaboration among the 12 prestigious wine capitals from around the world. Read about the research grant.
Wine Media Cadet named
Read about the cadetship and Teri’s first blog.
“Winning this year's Wine Media Cadetship from the Wine Communicators of Australia – supported by the Great Wine Capitals Adelaide, South Australia chapter – was a great honour and the start of a whirlwind adventure that I could have only dreamed of.” – Teri van Aalst
New educational scholarship offering
The Art and Science of Sustainable Wine Business and Tourism
We have launched a new program aimed at early to mid career wine industry professionals – or passionate people in other fields with transferable skills keen to enter the wine sector – to upskill for new or more senior roles. Up to 12 scholarships will be offered to ensure broad access to the program which will be delivered by the University of Adelaide. Read about the program and scholarship.
Inbound knowledge exchange
Hosting NZ visitors in Adelaide
Three Hawke’s Bay winemakers from Brookfields Winery, Paritua Winery, and Sileni were introduced to the best of the South Australian wine industry through a visit to Adelaide’s iconic Penfolds Magill Estate. The NZ group also met with SA wine producers about water saving initiatives, soil and vine health practices, future proofing against climate change, regenerative viticulture, and wine tourism.
10 Outbound Knowledge Exchange bursaries awarded
SA wine industry professionals win international travel opportunity in 2024–25
The South Australian wine industry professionals, researchers and academics were selected to travel to one or more of the other 11 Great Wine Capitals for knowledge and capacity building. They will engage with wine professionals from their chosen destination, exchange ideas and experiences, and expand their networks. They will report back to the SA wine industry on their learnings in early 2025. The bursaries are supported by Great Wine Capitals, PIRSA, Wine Australia and Wine Grape Council of South Australia. Read about the cohort of bursary winners.
Thousands enjoy SA wine at Gather Round
SA Wine Producers Bar served 4,500 glasses over 2 days
13 producers from 7 South Australian regions were selected to pour wines to thousands of excited local and interstate Gather Round fans at the Norwood Food and Wine Festival. Producers included Golding Wines, Deviation Road, Paulett Wines, Petaluma, Balnaves of Coonawarra, Ricca Terra, Heggies Vineyard, Oliver’s Taranga, Pindarie Wines, Two Hands Wines, Majella Wines, Jericho Wines and The Pawn Wine Co.
Mother-daughter wine duo return to Adelaide alma mater
Mother Wine masterclass at Tasting Australia
The connection between Adelaide, South Australia and fellow Great Wine Capital Hawkes Bay in New Zealand was showcased through this sold-out Tasting Australia masterclass featuring Kate and Penelope Radburnd of Radburnd Cellars, who are both proud University of Adelaide alumni.
Wine journey around the world at CheeseFest
Great Wine Capitals masterclasses and pop up bar featured in program
Great Wine Capitals was a proud sponsor of Australia's largest cheese festival CheeseFest, which attracted over 13,000 cheese lovers in 2024. The program featured three Great Wine Capitals masterclasses that took participants on a journey to other Great Wine Capitals Bordeaux (France), Rioja (Spain) and Hawke's Bay (New Zealand), from the comfort of Adelaide.
Nick Ryan on the Great Wine Capitals Discovery Stage
Cellar Door Fest hosted 6,100 wine-lovers
The free, interactive stage was hosted by respected South Australian wine identity Nick Ryan and featured some of South Australia’s Best Of Wine Tourism Award winners. Yangarra Estate Vineyard spoke about their sustainable, biodynamic and regenerative practices; Mt Lofty Ranges explored the topic of Lenswood Terroir; Pindarie debated Barossa Classics vs Alternative and Emerging Varietals; Alkina Wine Estate presented their Polygon Project; and Sidewood Estate ran a Shiraz and chocolate pairing.
12th World Potato Congress features SA wine
Hundreds of international visitors sample local drops
Adelaide hosted this important event on the world potato calendar, and used the Welcome Event to showcase local culture, food and wine. Representing SA’s excellent wine industry were Sidewood and Coriole Vineyards, beautifully complimented by Woodside Cheese Wrights platters.
World-class lamb matched with world-class wine
Record 1,500 delegates at Lambex
Lambex delegates from across the country and the world were treated to wine tastings from four South Australian wineries at the conference welcome function. Sidwood Estate, Pindarie Wines, Parker Estate and Vickery Wines poured their wines and engaged delegates in lively discussion about South Australian wine and Adelaide’s membership of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network. Wines from our friends in other Great Wine Capitals including Bordeaux, Verona and Hawke’s Bay were also enjoyed by guests.
Great Wine Capitals Annual General Meeting and Conference
Gathering of global wine community for sharing and learning
A delegation from Adelaide, South Australia joined 140 members of the global wine community in Verona, Italy for the jampacked AGM and Conference. Over the course of a week, a number of working group meetings were held to brainstorm and agree on the activities of the global network for the coming year to develop wine tourism around the world. Delegates also attended fascinating technical tours and an international wine tasting evening. The final day conference included a roundtable featuring University of Adelaide’s Dr Armando Maria Corsi who spoke about how the South Australian wine industry is adapting to changing consumer preferences and declining consumption. A key outcome of the AGM was the development of a value proposition for hosting and attending the annual event, put together by Jo Collins, Vice President of the Global Network, and Chair of the Adelaide, SA chapter. Other delegates included Alex Trescowthick representing the SA Wine Industry Association, Chloe Grainger from SATC, Mark Krstic of the Australian Wine Research Institute, Caroline Densley from Diverse Travel, Tara Donnelly of PIRSA, and Teri van Aalst (wine media cadet).
Great Wine Capitals in the media
Raising awareness of our activities
We secured local and international media coverage throughout the year for a number of Great Wine Capitals initiatives. InDaily profiled the 6 Best Of Wine Tourism Award winners, the Stock Journal covered Dandelion Vineyards’ global win, and The Post delved into Kimbolton Wines’ accessible and inclusive wine tourism experiences. University of Adelaide’s Dr Corsi was also interviewed by BBC Radio on how South Australian winemakers are responding to the impacts of climate change.
GWC Ambassador helps raise funds for world wine museum
Penfolds wine auctioned for €17,500
An online auction raised €337,000 for Great Wine Capital Bordeaux’s La Cité du Vin wine museum. One auction item was donated by South Australian Ambassador for Great Wine Capitals Peter Gago - a rare vertical of five magnums of Penfolds Bin 707 spanning five decades, presented in boxes signed by Peter. The museum covers world wine history which includes South Australia, and our wines are featured in its Belvedere tasting room.
SA wines in Hawke's Bay annual charity wine auction
NZ $336,000 raised for local NZ charity
Two South Australian wines featured as part of the Great Wine Capitals auction item – a 2012 'Helen' Cuvee from the Lane, and a 2015 'Isabella' Cuvee from Sidewood – alongside wines from other great wine regions. The auction has raised close to NZ$5 million since its inception.
