Tasmanian wine industry gets million dollar boost

A consortium led by Wine Industry Tasmania spearheaded the funding request with the grant sidelined to improve the quality of cool-climate sparkling and pinot noir wine.

Ms Jodie Campbell, federal member for Bass, met with the consortium recently to oversee the application - the first Tasmanian application under the Industry Development and Innovation Program.

She commented: "In the past, most grape and wine industry funding has been given to the warmer areas of Australia to improve the quality of Australia's leading varieties including Shiraz and Cabernet.

"This is the first time that significant funding has been awarded for cool-climate wine research in Australia, and it is a major achievement, not only for Tasmania's wine sector as a whole, but other cool-climate regions of Australia as well."

Commencing in July 2008, the three-year program will conclude in June 2011 with an international conference in Hobart.