Backing Australia's wine regions

The Albanese Labor Government is continuing to support Australia’s wine and cider producers, with applications for the latest round of the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants Program opening today.

This $10 million round provides grants of up to $100,000 to eligible wine and cider producers to upgrade cellar door facilities, expand tourism experiences, build workforce capability and grow their businesses.

This grant round is in addition to the ongoing, permanent relief the Albanese Labor Government is delivering to eligible wine producers through the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) rebate.

The Government has permanently increased the WET rebate cap from $350,000 to $400,000 from 1 July 2026, providing eligible wine producers with up to an additional $50,000 each year.

Since coming to office, the Albanese Labor Government has delivered over $105 million in funding to support the grape and wine sector, acknowledging how critical this industry is to Australia.  

The Government’s support initiatives for the wine and grape industry include:

• Funding of $4.9 million for Wine Australia to roll out and extend the Grape and Wine Sector Long-term Viability Support Package.
• The $30 million extension in September 2025 of the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant Program for 3 years.
• Introducing a new mandatory code of conduct for wine-grape purchases in response to Dr Craig Emerson’s Report on regulatory options for the sector.
• Australian Grape and Wine’s participation in Austrade’s $55 million Accessing New Markets Initiative to help the sector diversify into new and emerging markets.

Australia’s grape growing, winemaking and wine tourism industries contribute $51.3 billion to the national economy annually.

For more information about the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants Program, visit the Wine Australia website.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins:

“The Albanese Labor Government continues to back in Australia’s world-class wine industry.

“The grants will help producers invest in their cellar doors, improve visitor experiences and grow their businesses, creating benefits that flow right through regional economies.

“Alongside this support, we’ve provided ongoing, permanent relief by increasing the Wine Equalisation Tax rebate cap, providing eligible producers with up to an additional $50,000 each year.

“We know recent years have been challenging, that’s why our Government is investing in practical, long-term solutions to support the sector’s future.”