South Australia has more than 3,250 grape growers, 680 wineries and an estimated 76,000 hectares under vine. In 2022–23, the industry produced 662,000 tonnes of grapes and generated revenue of $1.9 billion. South Australia has more than 300 cellar doors where visitors can taste wines and purchase directly from the vineyard.

Membership of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network (GWCGN) acknowledges Adelaide, South Australia's:

  • excellence in grape and wine production
  • a commitment to research and development
  • education and tourism services
  • inextricable link between the wine industry and the city’s character, success and vision.

The Network consists of

  • Bilbao – Rioja, Spain
  • Bordeaux, France
  • Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Mainz – Rheinhessen, Germany
  • Mendoza, Argentina
  • Porto, Portigal
  • San Francisco – Napa Valley, United States
  • Valparaiso – Casablanca Valley, Chile
  • Cape Town – Cape Winelands, South Africa
  • Verona, Italy
  • Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

and encourages travel, education and business exchanges, and has led to significant joint research projects.

What are the benefits for industry?

Membership significantly lifts the bar for Adelaide and South Australia in terms of international profile, strengthening our capability in industry development, giving more reason to visit us, collaborate with us and do business with us.

The network is truly collaborative; we can rely on the expertise that other famous and experienced wine regions can offer. It also brings our own industry and regions together under the one banner to work together and improve and innovate.

Potential benefits are broader than the wine industry alone and will flow to:

  • grape growers
  • winemakers
  • individual wine brands
  • culinary tourism operators
  • restaurants
  • food and wine events
  • the broader community.

Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary Program

One of the key benefits to being a member of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network is our ability to collaborate with and learn from experts and innovators across the globe.

We are undertaking an outbound exchange program, offering South Australians the chance to learn directly from international industry experts.

The program allows 3 participants to travel to one or more Great Wine Capitals. Whether they learn about wine making, viticulture, AgTech, innovation, sustainability or research and development, these bursaries support our wine industry's learning and knowledge exchange.

Learn more about the Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary Program

Executive Business Program

The Art and Science of Sustainable Wine Business and Tourism

The Executive Business Program intends to build capacity among wine industry professionals, and to attract new talent to the sector. The program will equip current or prospective wine and tourism owners and managers with best practice knowledge to develop or strengthen an entrepreneurial mindset, build brand reputation, design effective digital communication strategies, identify appropriate distribution channels, learn how to best negotiate with channel partners, develop engaging cellar door and tourism experiences, and optimise the use of available resources.

The program is an initiative of Great Wine Capitals and has been designed by the Adelaide Business School's wine business and tourism world-class experts.

Learn more about the Executive Business Program

Internship portal

This internship portal provides a great opportunity for our students to find international industry opportunities, and our wine businesses to benefit from international expertise and perspectives. The portal will see wine students and businesses globally travelling to international wine regions and gaining invaluable experiences in these cities.

Interested students and businesses can upload their resume or information direct to the portal. In addition, businesses seeking an intern can express their interest on the portal. Only students and businesses in Great Wine Capitals regions can use the portal.

Access the Internship Portal

Industry toolkit

An industry toolkit has been developed to help South Australian food and wine producers promote our state in international markets and enhance our global premium food and wine credentials.

The wine toolkit features images, key messages, videos, and reports that food and wine businesses can use to market their products, region, and state.

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