ABOUT WINE YARRA VALLEY

Promoting our region

We are a not-for-profit member organisation that partners with a range of industries and organisations, to protect the future of the Yarra Valley wine industry and the region. We do this by:

• Providing leadership and direction for the continuing growth of the Yarra Valley brand locally, nationally and internationally
• Supporting continuous improvement in grape and wine quality and the ongoing development of wine styles
• Advocating and representing the interests of all our members and the region to industry, government, and community bodies

WYV creates opportunities for members to work collaboratively to achieve greater outcomes than they could individually.

Brand Awareness and Stakeholder Engagement

Promoting the Yarra Valley brand and regional wine tourism via digital communications, events program and industry initiatives, including the Yarra Valley Wine Show, to increase the profile of Yarra Valley wine and increase visitation.

Technical Excellence

Develop and deliver an annual workshop program for members to increase knowledge sharing and excellence in all aspect of growing and making, with a focus on sustainability in growing, making and business practices.

Advocacy

Taking a leadership role and advocating on issues such as phylloxera management, smoke taint and industry levies, regularly communicating with government and industry bodies and seeking funding opportunities to support the region.

Membership

Wine Yarra Valley relies on strong membership to fund its activities and to have a credible voice with government and industry bodies. Active members are the lifeblood of the association, they ensure goals are achieved and they create value which benefits the whole industry.

A strong membership base is critical to the success of the association achieving its goals. Wine Yarra Valley has 90 members consisting of grape growers and winemakers, ranging from large, globally recognised wine brands, to small, artisan producers.

Full Membership

A Full Member refers to a person or entity who:

• Conducts a bearing vineyard within the Yarra Valley region having an area of not less than 1 hectare OR
• Conducts a business of winemaking within the Yarra Valley region producing a minimum of 300 x 9 litre cases or equivalent of wine from Yarra Valley fruit conforming to the Label Integrity Program requirements as outlined by the Australian Grape and Wine Authority.

Fees for full membership are calculated based on four components:

• Base Fee (payable annually)
• Cellar Door Fee (applies to all wineries operating a Cellar Door facility)
• Total area of hectares under vine whether owned or leased
• Total tonnes of grapes crushed in 2020 for your own label(s)

Membership fees can be paid either in full or in two instalments. It should also be noted that wineries are requested to contribute 12 bottles of wine to the WYV’s promotional stock per year. This will be called upon when required.

Associate Membership

An Associate Member refers to:

• An entity or person who conducts a vineyard within the Yarra Valley having an area of less than one hectare or produces less that 300 x 9 litre cases or equivalent of wine from Yarra Valley fruit OR
• An entity or person having a particular interest in and knowledge of which, at the absolute discretion of the Committee, contributes to the aims of the Association, and is not otherwise eligible for full membership and, in the case of an entity, is represented by a person nominated by that entity.

Membership terms

Membership fees must be paid in full before 30th September to avoid membership cancellation. 

Wine Victoria and Australian Grape and Wine

Australian Grape and Wine and Wine Victoria are the peak national and state industry bodies that provide important support to industry through advocating to governments for both financial support and on issues critical to the industry’s success such as tax reform and labelling law.

In 2023-24, Wine Yarra Valley have agreed to collect and transfer membership fees on behalf of both the State and Federal industry bodies, Wine Victoria and Australian Grape & Wine (AG&W).

Wine Yarra Valley has built strong, collaborative relationships with several peak bodies within the Australian wine industry.