South Australian Wine Industry Association

12/10/2026

Our Heavy Vehicles W**e Industry Code of Practice training sessions kicked off in the Barossa this morning. An engaged group heard about how Chain of Responsibility duties apply across the grape and w**e supply chain, who may hold those duties, and how to use the Code to identify risks and select practical controls.

Free sessions are being delivered in Barossa, Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, Clare, Berri and Naracoorte, plus online.

There's still time to register. Find out more and register here: https://w**esouthaustralia.com/industry/events

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

07/10/2026

2026/27 SAWIA Executive Committee confirmed |

SAWIA has appointed its Executive Committee for 2026/27, with Kirsty Balnaves continuing as President, and Tom Keelan re-elected as Vice President.

The 13-member Executive Committee brings together growers, w**emakers and business leaders from across South Australia’s w**e regions and supply chain, providing industry-led direction as the sector continues to navigate significant change and pursue new opportunities.

The Executive Committee was announced at SAWIA’s Annual General Meeting on 6 October 2026, which reflected on the Association’s activities, achievements and advocacy during 2025/26.

The Executive Committee is comprised from the SAWIA membership and consists of seven area representatives nominated by South Australia’s main w**e regional associations, and six representatives from SAWIA’s broader membership.

Members of the SAWIA Executive Committee for 2026/27 are:
• Kirsty Balnaves, Balnaves of Coonawarra, Coonawarra Grape & W**e (President)
• Tom Keelan, The Pawn W**e Co, Langhorne Creek Grape & W**e (Vice President)
• Paul Zerella, Project W**e
• Anthony Catanzariti, Treasury W**e Estates
• Danielle Arnfield, Vinarchy
• Louisa Rose, Hill-Smith Family Estates
• Jeremy Blanks, Tarac
• Lucy Clements, Freestone Estate
• Olivia Hoffmann-Barry, Jim Barry W**es, Clare Valley W**e & Grape Association
• Ben Riggs, Mr Riggs W**e Co, McLaren Vale Grape, W**e & Tourism Association
• Brigid Nolan, The W**e Group, Riverland W**e Industry Development Council
• Alex Trescowthick, Trescowthick W**es, Adelaide Hills W**e Region
• Matthew McCulloch, Langmeil W**ery, Barossa Grape & W**e Association

SAWIA President Kirsty Balnaves thanked the members of the SAWIA Executive Committee who volunteer their time and lead SAWIA with accountability and foresight, delivering value to members.

06/10/2026

📣 2026 HR Conference – early bird registrations end this Friday 📣

Early bird pricing for SAWIA’s 2026 HR Conference ends this Friday. Register this week to secure your place and save: https://w**esa.zohobackstage.com.au/2026HRConference

Held at Sidewood Estate in the Adelaide Hills on Friday 20 November, the conference will bring together HR professionals, people leaders and business owners for a practical and engaging day focused on the people, compliance and workforce issues shaping grape and w**e businesses.

Early bird conference pricing (to 9 October):
➡ SAWIA member: $240 (ex GST)
➡ SAWIA non-member: $340 (ex GST)

Standard conference pricing (from 10 October):
➡ SAWIA member: $270 (ex GST)
➡ SAWIA non-member: $370 (ex GST)

📣 This year's theme and speakers 📣

This year's HR Conference theme is 'People. Practice. Progress: navigating the changing w**e workplace'. We’re pleased to announce two expert speakers, with more to follow soon.

🎤 Jill Bauer, Senior Lecturer and W**emaker, Adelaide University: Jill will present Beyond recruitment: Supporting, developing and retaining talent in the w**e industry, exploring how w**e businesses can build, develop and retain the people they need for the future.

🎤 Guy Biddle, Partner, Finlaysons: Guy will present Getting the engagement right: Employees, contractors and employment contracts, covering the terms businesses should have in employment and contractor agreements, as well as key issues to consider when ending an engagement.

💲 Register this week and save! 💲

30/09/2026

📣 HR CONFERENCE: SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT 📣

We're pleased to share that Guy Biddle, Partner at Finlaysons, is speaking at our 2026 HR Conference, to be held at Sidewood Estate on 20 November.

🎤 Guy's topic: Getting the engagement right: Employees, contractors and employment contracts, including:
-Issues to consider when ending the engagement.
-Terms you should have in employment and contractor contracts.

🔎 About Guy: Guy heads up Finlaysons’ Employment & Workplace Safety team. He is a highly skilled litigator with more than 30 years of experience in workplace law, general insurance and civil litigation.

When it comes to workplace issues, Guy’s affable nature and depth of experience are his biggest assets. His calm approach to negotiation and resolution reassures his clients and creates the space needed to find workable solutions.

Guy has worked for regulatory authorities in both South Australia and Queensland. He has represented government agencies, major corporates and insurers.

More speakers to be announced soon!

✅ Early bird conference pricing (to 9 October):
➡ SAWIA member: $240 (ex GST)
➡ SAWIA non-member: $340 (ex GST)

✅ Standard conference pricing (from 10 October):
➡ SAWIA member: $270 (ex GST)
➡ SAWIA non-member: $370 (ex GST)

⬇ Click the link below to register ⬇

29/09/2026

If you attended the 2026 South Australian W**e Industry Dinner, you will have seen the work of SAWIA Industry Partner Merlin - TV Content Design in action.

Merlin created this 'Sights and Sounds of Vintage' video that opened the dinner, capturing the people, places and energy of South Australia’s 2026 vintage and bringing the industry’s story to life on the big screen. Thanks to Bremerton W**es for hosting us.

The Merlin team also managed the dinner’s AV production in partnership with Scene Change, delivering a seamless and spectacular show across the evening.

It was a great example of what strong visual storytelling can do, whether you are speaking to hundreds of people in a room or reaching customers through a website, social media or digital campaign.

Merlin offers end-to-end video production, from developing the initial idea and script through to filming, editing, colour grading, graphics, animation and final delivery.

Through its partnership with SAWIA, Merlin is offering SAWIA members 20% off video production services, with packages starting at $3,992 + GST.

⬇ Find out more at the link in our comments ⬇

28/09/2026

Our September 26 newsletter is now live! It's packed with important stories:

➡ $109 million w**e industry package announced
➡W**e Industry Dinner: Industry honoured and celebrated
➡ Consultation on a mandatory code for w**egrape purchases
➡ W**e Wellbeing Program announced to support SA regions
➡ Register now: SAWIA's 2026 HR Conference
➡ New labour hire and contractor engagement toolkit available
➡ Sessions announced: W**e Industry Code of Practice for heavy vehicle transport
➡ Ask SAWIA: Can employees refuse to work on a public holiday?
➡ Bring your story to life with SAWIA Industry Partner Merlin
➡ W**e Debut returning in November 2026
➡ Save the dates: Storytelling workshops
➡ The W**emakers' Pour returns for a second round
➡ W**e Tourism and Cellar Door Grants open

And much more. Read it at the link below ⬇

28/09/2026

📣 HR CONFERENCE: SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT 📣

We're pleased to share that Jill Bauer, Senior Lecturer and W**emaker at the Adelaide University Waite W**ery and Program Director for the Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology, is speaking at our 2026 HR Conference, to be held at Sidewood Estate on 20 November,

🎤 Jill's topic: Beyond recruitment: Supporting, developing and retaining talent in the w**e industry

🔎 About Jill: With more than 25 years of experience across all facets of the w**e industry, she is nationally recognised for transforming w**emaking education through innovation, reflective practice and work-integrated learning.

Jill founded Vintage Conversations, leads global alumni networks, and was awarded the 2025 Stephen Cole the Elder Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2024 W**e Communicators Educator of the Year, and 2023 STEMM Educator of the Year (SA Science Excellence + Innovation Awards).

She is committed to connected, inclusive and future-focused education that empowers the next generation of w**emakers across Australia.

More speakers to be announced soon!

✅ Early bird conference pricing (to 9 October):
➡ SAWIA member: $240 (ex GST)
➡ SAWIA non-member: $340 (ex GST)

✅ Standard conference pricing (from 10 October):
➡ SAWIA member: $270 (ex GST)
➡ SAWIA non-member: $370 (ex GST)

Find out more and register here: https://w**esa.zohobackstage.com.au/2026HRConference?promoCode=Member #/?lang=en

23/09/2026

18/09/2026

South Australia’s grape and w**e industry came together last night for the 2026 South Australian W**e Industry Dinner, with Premier Peter Malinauskas announcing a $109 million support package for the industry.

Hosted by the SAWIA at the National W**e Centre, the annual dinner brought together growers, w**emakers, industry leaders and government to recognise the people, businesses and regions that underpin one of South Australia’s most important industries.

The dinner was opened by Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia. MC duties were performed by mentalist and magician Matt Tarrant.

The Premier delivered the keynote address and announced a package of measures including government-backed loans, regional aggregation and storage sites for CCA-treated posts, surplus w**e inventory solutions, an extension of the Global W**e Growth Program and the appointment of a W**e Industry Coordinator.

SAWIA President Kirsty Balnaves welcomed the announcement and the Government’s commitment to working with industry through a period of significant change.

“W**e is part of the fabric of our state. It supports regional communities, creates jobs and carries South Australia’s reputation around the world,” Kirsty said.

“Our growers and w**emakers have faced an incredibly challenging period, and this package recognises those pressures while investing in the future of our industry.

“We thank the Premier and the South Australian Government for working with industry and look forward to partnering on initiatives that strengthen our competitiveness, support regional economies and position South Australian w**e for future success.”

The evening also celebrated excellence across the industry, with winners announced for the 2026 SAWIA Excellence Awards, the 2026 Vinehealth Australia Biosecurity Champion Award and the 2027 Adelaide Great W**e Capitals Best Of W**e Tourism Awards. Department of Primary Industries and Regions

Thank you to our members, guests, partners and sponsors for making the 2026 SA W**e Industry Dinner such a memorable night.

Merlin - TV Content Design Scene Change **eSouthAustralia **edinner

Click here for details of the award winners: https://shorturl.at/tKQIb

📷 Ben Macmahon

18/09/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 SAWIA Excellence Awards winners, presented at the South Australian W**e Industry Dinner last night!

🎉 2026 Work Health Safety Excellence Award: Hill-Smith Family Estates, for comprehensive injury prevention, reducing workplace risks and injuries. Award sponsor: National W**e Education & Training Centre.

🎉 2026 Small to Medium Business Environment Excellence Award: Freestone Estate, for transforming w**ery waste into circular environmental and community value. Award sponsor: National W**e Education & Training Centre.

🎉 2026 Large Business Environment Excellence Award: Treasury W**e Estates, for integrated sustainability spanning packaging, decarbonisation and climate adaptation. Award sponsor: Green Industries SA.

🎉 2026 Individual Champion Environment Excellence Award: Darren Earle from Treasury W**e Estates, for driving circularity through innovation in w**ery water and waste management. Award sponsor: Department of Primary Industries and Regions.

The SAWIA Excellence Awards recognise outstanding achievements in environmental sustainability, work health and safety and individual leadership across the South Australian grape and w**e supply chain.

Find out more: https://w**esouthaustralia.com/industry/news/industry-awards

📷 Ben Macmahon