Message from the Chairman

Welcome to the Wine Innovation Cluster (WIC) - a collaborative initiative from four of Australia's leading agencies involved in grape and wine research.

First, I thank Stuart McNab, the inaugural Chair, for the great role he played in coordinating the WIC from its earliest stages back in 2007.

Cooperation across all sectors of the Australian Grape and Wine Industry has long been identified as a key competitive advantage for Australia in the global wine market.

The current set of challenges, which includes global grape and wine surpluses, climate change, financial crises, political instability, currency variability and increasing competition from old and new world producers, serves to remind us that we have much to gain from collaboration and synergising our strengths and resources.

The Wine Innovation Cluster is not another industry overhead or bureaucracy; it is a coming together of minds, energy, capability and will - for the common good.

Brian Walsh
Chairman, 2011