Hugh Schuitemaker, Murray Pioneer

Riverland wine grape growers have been advised by their peak representative body, and senior local politicians, that realistic expectations and business decisions are required before the next vintage.

Riverland Wine today released a statement asking members to “carefully consider their business models and make balanced, financially viable decisions heading into vintage 2026”.

Riverland Wine general manager Alex Cannon-Leyson said “time is running out for many regional wine businesses and action is needed now”.

“With the expectation that water prices and other input costs will also increase during the growing season ahead, the immediate future looks very challenging for many of the local growers and wine businesses,” Ms Cannon-Leyson said.

“Riverland Wine cannot provide advice on case-by-case situations, but we can help collate information and present measured and unbiased facts, allowing growers and wineries to make balanced business decisions.

“With wine consumption in regular decline and wine stocks in oversupply globally, it’s time for growers, winemakers and the community to start considering how they can make positive and lasting change for the region.

“If you are a grape grower, start by talking to the wineries that buy your grapes and then consider talking to other key business stakeholders – like your irrigation trust or water broker, service providers, fertiliser and chemical suppliers and potentially seek professional financial advice. If you are a winery, consider engaging with your grower base as soon as practically possible, to provide clear direction on price and demand.”

Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone said financial uncertainty surrounding grape growing and wine production was pressuring many Riverland families.

“As I drive around the region taking note of the impacts of drought, the wine grape sector is slowly making some very-sobering decisions,” Mr Whetstone said.

“For those that are prepared to continue, pruning has started, but many growing families are still weighing up their options. Riverland Wine has made some informed observations, (and) I urge growers to weigh up their options to plan for the season ahead.

“My conversations with wineries, marketing experts, industry professionals is quite consistent to what many already know. My ask is, when making a tough decision, be prepared, be informed and do it with family in mind.

“Remember, if you keep doing the same thing and expect a different result, you’re kidding yourself.”

Riverland-based MLC, and opposition spokesperson for regional South Australia, Nicola Centofanti said further support measures were needed for the state’s wine industry to overcome current challenges.

“Riverland Wine is right to encourage informed and rational decision-making, but let’s be clear: growers are being forced to make impossible decisions,” Dr Centofanti said.

“Input costs – fertiliser, chemicals, energy, and water – are all rising, and are being fuelled by… policy settings, whether it’s energy policy that drives up power bills, biosecurity cost-shifting, or water policy that lacks any certainty or long-term direction for irrigators.

“These aren’t just numbers on a balance sheet. They’re livelihoods, they’re family businesses, they’re regional communities and they deserve better.

“Growers and winemakers need urgent support and a serious strategy to manage structural oversupply, market access challenges, and the cost-of-doing-business crisis gripping our regions.”

Ms Cannon-Leyson said Riverlanders choosing to support local wineries were also benefiting the wider industry.

“If you reside in the Riverland, and are not directly impacted by the wine industry, you can still support the sector by drinking locally grown Riverland wines,” she said.

Riverland Wine will be hosting an Industry Insights event on Thursday July 24, at the Berri Hotel, aiming to provide regional industry insights to members, directly from key industry stakeholders – enabling them to make informed business decisions for Vintage 2026.

This article appeared in Murray Pioneer, 2 July 2025.