Opportunity for young Australian wine industry professionals

Are you an ambitious young professional working in the Australian wine industry? 

Applications are now open for a new bursary giving Australian grape and wine professionals aged 35 and under the opportunity to attend the Institute of Masters of Wine International Symposium 2027, an influential forum for wine education, ideas and debate.

The bursaries are designed for emerging professionals who want to accelerate their careers, expand their global perspective and bring new thinking back to Australia’s wine sector, Wine Australia says. 

Open to people working across viticulture, winemaking, research, marketing and trade, the program removes cost barriers and provides access to learning and networks that are often out of reach early in a career.

Ten successful applicants will receive financial support to attend the IMW Symposium 2027 and engage directly with global experts, Masters of Wine and international peers. 

Emma Symington MW, Head of Education Development, EMEA at Wine Australia, is one of two co-chairs organising the Symposium and was instrumental in establishing this bursary to ensure young and early-career wine professionals have an opportunity to participate.

“Young professionals want to be part of global conversations early and gain confidence that their ideas belong in the room," she said. 

"But often the cost to attend experiences like the International Masters of Wine International Symposium are out of reach for many. As an organiser of this event, I genuinely want to see more young people attending.”

Jenna Vaughan, who oversees the Rootlings program, the national network for young grape and wine professionals funded by Wine Australia, and said the bursary responds directly to what under 35s are seeking from their careers.

“Young professionals want access, not just information." she said. "Being in the room where big conversations are happening changes how you think about your role and what’s possible. This kind of opportunity helps you bring new ideas back to the workplace and apply them on the ground.”

The IMW Symposium 2027 will be delivered by the Institute of Masters of Wine and hosted in South Australia with support from the South Australian Government. Wine Australia is a major sponsor of the Symposium and delivers the bursary program as part of its long-term investment in industry capability.

More information, eligibility criteria and application details are available here.

Taste some of the best of Australia in Sydney

Food and wine lovers are in for a treat this month when the Grape, Grain & Graze Festival returns to Sydney on Saturday, September 20. 

The event celebrates the culmination of the Sydney Royal Wine, Beer, Cider, Distilled Spirits and Fine Food Shows, giving visitors access to some of Australia’s best products - including an unlimited tasting of over 1000 medal-winning wines. Good luck with that one!

“Grape, Grain & Graze is a dream come true for food and wine lovers,” said Sydney Royal Wine Committee Chair Angus Barnes.

“The festival offers unique access to over 1,000 of Australia’s best wines, plus award-winning beers, cider, distilled spirits and food in a festival-style setting, accompanied by live music and a fantastic atmosphere. 

"I can’t think of anything like it here in Sydney, and it's only on for one day, so people need to get in quick!”

Tickets to the event start at $120 and include entry, unlimited tastings of award-winning wine, beer and cider, and grazing on charcuterie boards.

The event will also feature live music and access to a Sydney Royal Marketplace, where guests can try produce from the Sydney Royal Fine Food Show. And, for a snack, food trucks such as Bianco’s Kitchen and Antico Woodfire Pizza are on the agenda. 

Additional add-ons include tastings of the 2025 Sydney Royal Wine Show Trophy winning wines, guided wine and cheese tastings, and an immersive masterclass showcasing Sydney Royal’s gin winners.

The event is presented by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, which runs the Sydney Royal competitions. 

The Grape, Grain & Graze Festival will take place at Sydney Showground from 2pm–7pm. 

Learn more or purchase tickets at www.rasnsw.com.au/ggg

Singapore says "no" to Australian prosecco

A Singapore court has slammed the door shut on Australian wine producers looking to use the word "prosecco" to describe their sparkling wines.

The Court of Appeal said this week that the term “prosecco” can be used in Singapore "exclusively for wines produced in a specific region in Italy", as requested by Prosecco producers.

It rejected the arguments of Australian winemakers opposing the move, The Straits Times reported.

Australian producers argue that prosecco is the name of a grape variety, while the Italians say it is a geographic indicator.

So Australian winemakers wanting to sell prosecco in Singapore may have to label their wines OzSecco, or AusSecco - my idea, payment to GOTR please. 

A five-judge court ruled that while Australians could demonstrate that “prosecco” was the name of a grape variety, it failed to show that the proposed GI is likely to mislead Singapore consumers as to the true geographical origin of the wine.

It is the first ruling by the Court of Appeal on geographical indications, a type of intellectual property protection which identifies a product as having originated from a particular territory that has given the item its unique characteristics.