Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke has announced a $429,00 0 grant from the government’s Promoting Australian Produce program for Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW), a collaboration of high-profile Australian winemakers.

The grant is being used to present a series of promotional events in the UK in an effort to bolster Australia’s second largest export market for bottled wine – worth almost $489 million a year.

Recent events in Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh and London were timed to coincide with London’s International Wine Trade Fair.

“Australia’s First Families of Wines is an excellent example of the industry taking ownership of its future to ensure the long-term success and profitability of this important industry,” Mr Burke said.

AFFW was formed last year, a collaboration between twelve family-owned Australian winemakers – Brown Brothers, Campbells Wines, D’Arenberg, De Bortoli Wines, Henschke, Howard Park Wines, McWilliam’s Wines, Tahbilk, Taylor’s Wines, Tyrrell’s Wines and Yalumba. Between them, the wineries boast presences in 16 winegrowing regions across four states.

Welcoming news of the grant, AFFW member Colin Campbell from Campbell’s Wines in Rutherglen said, “Following our successful launch in 2009, this grant will now assist us to take the premium Australian wine message to the wider global audience whilst also signalling a strong endorsement of the AFFW’s objectives”.

Australian wine has been hurt severely by the global financial crisis, particularly premium wines, and by an oversupply of grapes, forcing the industry to tighten its belt over recent months.

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