Wine Industry Funds

South Australia's grape and wine industry has access to a reliable source of funding through the 7 wine industry funds. This gives it:

  • capacity to innovate
  • ability to adopt best industry practice
  • resources to respond positively to the demands of the modern market.

The rules for each fund are set out in the below fund regulations.

Industry fund regulations

Contributing to the funds

Grape growers, winemakers, and wineries have different responsibilities in contributing to the wine industry funds.

Wine grape growers

Grape grower contributions are collected from the grower by a winemaker. The winemaker is entitled to deduct the grape grower contributions from its payment to a grape grower.

The winemaker forwards these grape grower contributions to PIRSA when paying their winemaker contributions.

Winemakers

Depending on the fund, winemakers pay a contribution based on one of the following:

  • processing their grapes and other grapes from a particular wine region
  • grapes grown by the winemaker.

Grape growers making wine under contract

Grape growers making wine under contract are deemed to be winemakers, so they must:

  • pay the winemaker contributions
  • collect grape grower contributions on any grapes they purchase and forward these to PIRSA when paying their winemaker contributions.

Wineries in other states

  • Pay the grower contribution.
  • Pay the winemaker contribution to receive services or benefits funded by payments from the fund.

Contribution rates

In addition to regional fund contributions, SA grape growers (excluding winemakers who grow grapes) must contribute to the SA Grape Growers Industry Fund.

The amount is 0.2% of the purchase price.

See the rates below or download a copy of the 2024 vintage – Wine Industry Fund contribution rates (PDF 93.9 KB).

Rates for the 2024 vintage

Adelaide Hills

Grower: $7.65 per tonne.

Winemaker:

  • purchased grapes: $7.65 per tonne
  • own grapes: $15.30 per tonne.
Barossa

Grower: $11.70 per tonne.

Winemaker:

  • purchased grapes: $11.70 per tonne
  • own grapes: $11.70 per tonne.

Maximum contribution payable by a winemaker or a grape grower: $55,281.

Minimum contribution payable by a Barossa winemaker: $213.

Clare Valley

Grower: $9.00 per tonne.

Winemaker:

  • purchased grapes: $9.00 per tonne
  • own grapes: $9.00 per tonne.

Maximum contribution payable by a winemaker or a grape grower: $20,000.

Winemaker minimum contribution if the winemaker has a vineyard or processing facility in the Clare Valley but no cellar door: $500.

Winemaker minimum contribution if the winemaker has a vineyard or processing facility and a cellar door in the Clare Valley: $1,000.

Langhorne Creek

Grower: $6.15 per tonne.

Winemaker:

  • purchased grapes: $4.31 per tonne
  • own grapes: $10.46 per tonne.

Maximum contribution payable by a winemaker or a grape grower: $30,000.

McLaren Vale

Grower: $9.66 per tonne.

Winemaker:

  • purchased grapes: $12.81 per tonne
  • own grapes: $12.81 per tonne.

Maximum contribution payable by a winemaker or a grape grower: $36,466.50.

Riverland

Grower: 0.5% of amount payable to grower.

Winemaker:

  • purchased grapes: $0.50 per tonne
  • own grapes: $1.50 per tonne.

Contribution process

Contributions must be paid to PIRSA by 30 June each year.

  1. If any grapes are grown by a person other than the winemaker, you must first complete the grower details spreadsheet (XLSX 166.0 KB) including:
    • ABN
    • email address
    • tonnes
    • amounts deducted.
  2. For the Riverland and SA Grape Growers funds, you must also provide the total paid to the grower.
  3. Complete the 2022-2023 wine industry contributions online form for all wine funds and attach the grower details spreadsheet when prompted. Please note:
    • The 2024 contribution forms will be available shortly.
    • The form cannot be saved and will need to be completed all at once. If you start the form again it will reset from the beginning.
    • You do not need to register or log in to use the online form, but you must have a valid email address.

Amounts payable are calculated automatically. Credit and debit card payment facilities are available.

Use of funds

Payments are made from the funds to the following organisations, to provide benefits and services to contributors:

Contribution refunds

Growers and winemakers must contribute to the funds, but you can ask for a refund in the year of the vintage.

You cannot access benefits or services provided by fund payments for 2 years if you get a refund.

Refund requests for vintage 2024 close on 30 November 2024.

If you have any queries regarding the refund process, please contact us.

Download refund forms

Fund management

The Primary Industry Funding Schemes Act 1998 requires management plans for each fund to be revised annually and presented at a public meeting. These include:

  • estimates of the likely contributions to the funds over the following 5-year period
  • proposals for investment of the fund
  • proposals for how the fund will be applied to benefit contributors.

The latest management plans were presented at a public meeting on 5 July 2023:

Annual reports

Contact

Ainsley Maconochie – Program Lead, Primary Industry Funding Schemes
Phone: (08) 8214 6025
Email: pirsa.pifs@sa.gov.au

Page last reviewed: 22 Jan 2024

 


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