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Oct 17, 2024

2024 South Australian wine industry bursary winners announced

Ten South Australian wine industry representatives have been selected to travel to one or more Great Wine Capitals of the world to exchange ideas and expand their networks.

The 2024–25 Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary Program enables South Australian wine industry professionals, researchers, and academics to travel to other wine regions across the globe and share their learnings with the South Australian wine industry upon their return.

The exchange program is made possible by Adelaide, South Australia’s membership in the Great Wine Capital Global Network (GWCGN). GWCGN is an exclusive group of 12 internationally renowned wine regions, all of which open their doors to bursary recipients from South Australia.

The 10 recipients named by the Great Wine Capitals Steering Committee for Adelaide, South Australia are:

  • Anna Baum – Clare Valley Wine and Grape Association
    (travelling to Valparaiso, Casablanca Valley, Chile)
  • Brendan Carter – Unico Zelo, Adelaide Hills
    (travelling to Cape Town, Cape Winelands, South Africa)
  • Cristobal Onetto – Australian Wine Research Institute, Adelaide
    (travelling to Mendoza, Argentina)
  • Eleanor Bilogrevic – University of Adelaide, Adelaide Business School, Adelaide
    (travelling to Mainz, Rheinhessen, Germany and Bilbao, Rioja, Spain)
  • Fil Farina – Elders, Limestone Coast
    (travelling to Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand)
  • Kate Laurie – Deviation Road, Adelaide Hills
    (travelling to Bilbao, Rioja, Spain)
  • Michael Van Der Sommen – Torbreck Vintners, Barossa
    (travelling to San Francisco, Napa Valley, United States)
  • Natalia Caliani – University of Adelaide, Adelaide
    (travelling to Mendoza, Argentina and Valparaíso, Casablanca Valley, Chile)
  • Sid Pachare – Raga Wine, Watkins Grape and Wine, SAWIA, Adelaide Hills
    (travelling to Bordeaux, France)
  • Siubhan Wilcox – Accolade Wines, McLaren Vale
    (travelling to Cape Town, Cape Winelands, South Africa)

Participants from previous years have returned with valuable knowledge about a wide range of topics including biosecurity and addressing diseases and pests, sustainability, place, and water regulations, through to shifting consumer tastes and expectations, cellar door offerings and wine tourism services.

The Adelaide, South Australia chapter of Great Wine Capitals is a partnership between the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), South Australian Tourism Commission, South Australian Wine Industry Association, and the University of Adelaide.

The bursaries, which are each valued at $6,000, are supported by Great Wine Capitals (Adelaide, South Australia), the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), Wine Australia, and the Wine Grape Council of SA.

During their travels, bursary recipients will meet with key industry, regional and educational stakeholders to share their knowledge and learn about practices and operations in their chosen field.

For more information, see the Adelaide Great Wine Capital page.