Riverland Wine Urges Premier to Act on Industry Crisis

Riverland Wine has issued an urgent open letter to South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, warning that the state’s largest wine-producing area and the backbone of thousands of family livelihoods, is in the grip of a severe economic and social crisis.

The letter describes a situation that has escalated beyond an industry downturn into a full-blown community emergency. Grape purchase prices remain at historic lows, with early indicators for the 2026 vintage showing Shiraz prices as low as $80 – $120 per tonne, far below the cost of production, which exceeds $350 per tonne. White grape prices have also plummeted, compounding financial distress for growers.

The letter has been signed by Amanda Dimas, Chair of the Riverland Winegrape Growers Association and Jim Markeas, Chair of the Riverland Wine Industry Development Council and states, “When farmers stop believing they have a future, whole towns suffer. Schools, local businesses, sporting clubs, and service organisations all feel the shockwaves.”