Volume 62 | January 29th 2021
The New South Wales Wine Industry Association represents the interests of all NSW wine producers and grape growers. Our aim is for the NSW Wine Industry Association to advocate for the NSW Wine Industry and provide information and a sense of belonging to our members.
AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS FOR NSW WINEMAKERS
Congratulations go out to three people from the NSW Wine Industry in receiving Australia Day Honours this week. Mark and Anne Ward from Swinging Bridge Wines, Orange (and are the parents of past President Tom Ward) received a Medal of the Order of Australia OAM for their service to the community of Canowindra. David O’Dea from Windowrie Estate Wine, also from Canowindra, was awarded an OAM for services to the wine industry and to the community of Canowindra.
Also congratulations to both Mrs Rosemary Joan Bennett and Mr Terence Michael Bennett from the Tasmanian Wine industry (owners of Home Hill Winery), who both received an OAM for service to the wine industry, and to the community.
 
Finally a hearty congratulations to Australian Grape & Wine Chairman, Mr Sandy Clark, who received an Australia Day award of the Officer of the Order in the General Division (AO), for distinguished service to the wine industry through leadership roles, to finance and business, to the arts, and to charitable initiatives. Sandy has been a great supporter of the wine industry and has been helpful to us in NSW.
COLES NUTURE FUND
Back in 2015, Coles launched the Nurture Fund to help small and medium sized businesses innovate and grow. Since then, they have offered more than $24 million in financial support to more than 60 Australian food and liquor producers. From Australia’s first quinoa processing facility, to home grown garlic and to Australian first prawn farming technology, the Coles Nurture Fund has helped producers bring their big ideas to life.
Small and medium sized businesses can apply for a grant of up to $500,000 to help them develop new market-leading products, technologies and processes. So if you have a great idea, enter Round 9 of the Coles Nurture Fund before Friday 19 March 2021. HERE
COVID UPDATES
You probably will have heard that as of this morning (12.01am Friday) restrictions are being lifted in Greater Sydney - you can see all the details HERE . The restrictions in regional and rural NSW remain the same (HERE) but it is always worth keeping an eye on the big picture.
Don't forget there are lots of other useful links on our website - https://www.nswwine.com.au/covid-19/
We appreciate that with COVID closing both international and some state borders, getting labour to handpick grapes this vintage looks like it will provide some challenges. This is just a friendly reminder of the obligations of all employers / owners with regards to ensuring that anyone that is employed to pick grapes has been covered by appropriate insurance, and provided with adequate training and remuneration in line with this task. This also applies to any so called ‘member picking’ events that may occur. 
NSW FIRST ON-DEMAND RESOURCES
You can now watch the NSW First webinar series or read the very useful resource guides any time you like, via the below links ...

Watch the webinar series on demand:
For these webinars you need to fill in the registration page and you will then be sent the recordings to watch at your convenience.
SHORT SIPS NEWS
+ The free Brand Marketing webinar for NSW wineries is being held on Monday so don't delay and sign up HERE

+ PACKWINE Design Awards are now open, deadline 28 Feb 2021

+ Wine Australia's survey about the impact of strategic partnerships in research, development and adoption is open for the last day today. Participate HERE