May 26, 2015
The South Burnett Wine Industry Association (SBWIA) will ask the Queensland State Government to use Queensland wines at all future State Government functions.
It will also ask the Government to axe venues which have a policy of either not stocking Queensland wines at all, or which stock one or two brands and prohibit other Queensland wines being served at Government functions.
The issue of developing a positive preference for the State’s wines was discussed at a SBWIA meeting held at Kingsley Grove Estate near Kingaroy last week.
President Jason Kinsella told members his winery had recently been approached to exhibit at a State Government conference, and he was sure other members had been approached too.
But he was surprised to find while the Government wanted him to exhibit South Burnett wines at the conference, the venue the conference dinner was being held at had a policy of only supplying wines from two wineries.
“I suggested to the organisers that if the venue had that policy, it was an unsuitable venue for a Queensland Government conference paid for by Queensland taxpayers,” Mr Kinsella said.
“Surely the State Government would want to showcase foods and wines from all of Queensland’s regions at a major conference like that?”
Mr Kinsella intends to talk with Member for Nanango (and Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Deb Frecklington about the matter.
He also hopes the State’s peak industry body, the Queensland Wine Industry Association, will take up the issue.
Mr Kinsella said the South Burnett Regional Council was a good example of what the SBWIA would like to see the State Government do.
“For several years now our Council has preferenced South Burnett wines at all its social functions, the same way it preferences local foods and local caterers, and this has been a wonderful shot in the arm for our region’s food and wine producers and restauranteurs,” he said.
“I know it’s brought us many new customers who might have avoided local wines in the past, but have found that these days we’re producing wines the equal of anything in the country
“It’s also bought many visitors to the area who might have come to a Council function at some point, tried the wines and decided to come back on their own later on to explore the area and try some more.
“This preference has been a very far-sighted policy which has done a lot of good in our own back yard.
“We’d like to see the State Government take it up as well.”
