2005 Australian Winegrape Conference

Having this year gone through the biggest, and possibly the hardest, vintage ever, growers of the inland regions are presenting the third Australian Winegrape Conference at a crucial time for the Australian wine industry. There's no denying that the industry has kicked some impressive goals over the past 10 years, but equally there's no denying that many industry participants are now nursing the legacies of that success. An explosion in plantings has caused over supply, other countries have lifted the competition bar, expanding wine businesses have been the ruin of others and winegrape prices have nosedived. But there's optimism that the industry may have emerged from the bottom of the cycle.

Looking ahead

So, what does the future hold? In the same way that technology was predicted to change the world Beyond 2000, the upheaval occurring in the wine industry demands the focus for us now shifts to Beyond 2005. And that's exactly what the Australian Winegrape Conference will be doing.

Speakers have been chosen for their credentials in having achieved much and likelihood of achieving much more. Jamie Odell of Foster's Wine Estates will give an insight into what the future holds for the world's largest premium winemaker, Stuart McGrath-Kerr will present the latest supply/demand equation, Michael Walton from leading market research company AC Nielsen will examine the increasing influence of supermarkets on the global wine industry and Ciatti Australia will share some thoughts on the international bulk wine phenomenon.

Inform & provoke

The Australian Winegrape Conference, which entered a new phase in 2003 when the major inland regions combined to organise the event, is again being presented as an undertaking of Murray Valley Winegrowers' Inc., Riverland Winegrape Growers' Association and Riverina Wine Grapes Marketing Board, under the banner of Wine Grape Growers' Australia Inc. The aim again is to inform and provoke, and to arm growers and winemakers with more background to the main issues and information on where their industry is going Beyond 2005.

Wine Industry Expo

The 2005 Australian Winegrape Conference expects over 300 delegates and is offering you the chance to be involved in an Industry Expo to be staged at the conference site. Here is your opportunity to exhibit, network, demonstrate and display products and services of interest to the winegrape industry.

WHEN

9am (registration from 8am) to 4pm, 17 November 2005

WHERE

Mildura Settlers Club, Eighth St. Mildura.

COST (GST inc)

$154 per registration - $132 for Early Bird registrations (prior to 7 October 2005). $55 for growers paying levies to Murray Valley Winegrowers' Inc, Riverland Winegrape Growers' Association or Riverina Wine Grapes Marketing Board, and full-time students (Student ID required)

ENQUIRIES

Helen Healy
03 5021 5100 / 0417 556 821 / info@helenhealy.com