Accolade Wines has today launched a website, www.sustainableriverlandwine.com.au, outlining its proposed solution to address the pressing challenges confronting the Riverland wine industry and its growers.

The website also provides a method for growers to ask questions about the proposal and review responses from Accolade Wines.

Accolade Wine Chief Supply Chain Officer Joe Russo said it was critical that growers had adequate information about the proposal.

“It is critical that all growers understand the detail of our proposal and its benefits. There has been a lot of discussion of the issue confronting our industry and we need to move the focus towards action and solutions. It has been great to meet with growers since we launched this last week, but only a small proportion of CCW’s members actually attended last week’s meetings,” Mr Russo said.

“The support of CCW members is critical. Two-thirds of them will have to vote in favour of the proposal. Without their vote, the package cannot proceed – and the risks are much higher for everyone and the outcome much more uncertain.

“There is currently no other feasible option on the table that allows us as an industry to manage the outcome and our future. This package provides all growers with greater certainty and clarity. It allows us all to manage a difficult transition more smoothly, it allows those who wish to exit to do so with dignity and those who want to continue to do so with greater confidence.”

Accolade’s proposal provides growers with:

Choice: A voluntary buy-out option for red wine grapes for those who wish to take it up. Growers choosing to participate in this buy-out keep their contract with CCW and have the choice of keeping their vines and sell to others, diversifying their grapes or exiting the industry.

Certainty: This proposal addresses the structural imbalance and red wine grape glut, providing a more stable, sustainable, and certain industry for the future. It provides set tenure of contracts with substantial notice periods and it offers to cover the cost of CCW’s bulk wine contract – removing a significant financial burden from the cooperative.

Fairer pricing: Pricing will be transparently set by the Weighted District Average, rather than a confusing and outdated market price often applied by a mediator.

“As an industry, for us to continue as if no response is required simply isn’t sustainable. We have a shared responsibility to face into this challenge and respond,” Mr Russo said.

“We’re wanting to take a constructive approach to the biggest industry challenge in many years. We’re keen to keep working with CCW and have listened and adapted in developing this package.”

Accolade Wines urges growers to be informed about this proposal, ask questions to gather as much information as possible before they vote by visiting: www.sustainableriverlandwine.com.au

For further information contact:

Adam Bell, 0481 476 521 or adam.bell@accoladewines.com.au