Wine Australia Launches National Vineyard Register to Track Plantings Across Country

Wine Australia has announced the launch of a National Vineyard Register, a digital platform designed to map and track vineyard plantings across the country. The project aims to provide winegrape growers and industry leaders with up-to-date data on vineyard sizes, grape varieties, and planting ages. The initiative is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry as part of a more than $4-million Grape and Wine Sector Long-term Viability Support Package.

The new register will be built by Map of Ag Australia, a company known for its expertise in agricultural data connectivity and analytics. The platform will feature a user-friendly, map-based interface that allows growers to securely input their planting information. It is expected to deliver data-driven insights at national, state, and regional levels, helping the sector balance supply and demand and respond to changing market conditions.

The decision to create the register comes after years of calls from growers and industry bodies for better data collection. Many in the sector have faced difficult decisions due to drought, rising water prices, shifting consumer preferences, and a persistent oversupply of red wine grapes. Brett Rosenzweig, a grower from Riverland, said that while the register is overdue, it will help growers make more informed business decisions. He noted that other agricultural industries already have similar registers in place.

Currently, South Australia is the only state with an existing vineyard register, managed by Vinehealth Australia. Under this system, anyone with 0.5 hectares or more of planted vines must register their property. The new national platform aims to streamline data collection by allowing anonymous data transfer from Vinehealth Australia to avoid duplication and ensure accuracy.

Wine Australia CEO Dr. Martin Cole said that Map of Ag Australia was selected for the project due to its strong track record in building robust digital solutions tailored to agriculture. He emphasized that better data on grape varieties by region was identified as a key priority under the One Grape & Wine Sector Plan, especially in light of ongoing oversupply issues.

Andrew Cooke, Chief Technology Officer at Map of Ag Australia, stated that his team is committed to delivering a secure and flexible solution that meets the needs of the grape and wine sector. The platform will allow data entry in multiple ways and is designed to empower users while supporting industry collaboration.

The development process will begin in early March with a discovery and design phase involving volunteer growers and stakeholder consultations. This phase is expected to conclude by the end of April. The goal is for the platform to be operational before the end of 2026.

There are ongoing discussions about whether participation in the register will be mandatory. Some growers argue that compulsory registration is necessary for accurate industry-wide data. Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said she expects strong participation from growers since industry groups have long advocated for such a resource.

Industry leaders say that having comprehensive national data will help manage supply pressures more effectively as drinking trends shift and different grape varieties move in and out of oversupply. Lee McLean, chief executive of Australian Grape and Wine, acknowledged that current national planting data is weak and that the new register will fill an important gap.

The National Vineyard Register represents a significant step toward modernizing Australia's wine industry infrastructure. By providing reliable information on vineyard plantings across all states, it aims to support better decision-making for growers and help ensure the long-term sustainability of one of Australia's most important agricultural sectors.