23 Nov 2016 Ovens and Murray Advertiser, Wangaratta VIC (General News) by Jamie Kronborg BEECHWORTH VigneronsAssociation last week received a $5000 Victorian government grant to support a Sydney trade event to be held next autumn. The good news coincided with the associations highly-regarded annual Spring tasting held in Beechworth on Saturday and which association president Simon Grant described as really successful. He said the move from the old Town Hall to the Servicemens Memorial Hall offered a more comfortable environment for people wanting to taste the wines available from the 28 participating vignerons. It was enjoyed by quite a few return tasters and new customers from Melbourne, Mr Grant said. Developing interest in Beechworth wines in the Melbourne market is one of the associations particular targets, so we were very pleased to welcome them. They also got to taste some other local products Silver Creek sourdough bread and Milawa cheese. Mr Grant said attendance by representatives of the wine trade was also up on last year. In response to grant funding to wineries and the association from the State Governments $1 million wine growth fund, Mr Grant said the news was good for Beechworth wine. Indigo Wine Company was granted $15,000 and Serengale Vineyard $20,000. The Advertiser understands that the grants are to be matched dollar-for-dollar by the recipients. The government announced that Alpine Valley Vignerons is to receive $20,000 and Wines of the King Valley $25,000. Rutherglens Campbells Wines and Jones Winery and Wahgunyahs Pfeiffer Wines each received $10,000 from the fund to support business and export market development and wine tourism. Eternity Rutherglen secured $20,000. Gapsted Wines between Murmungee and Myrtleford was granted $10,000. Tourism North East has also received $50,000 to research consumer trends and behavior across six local government areas in the region. These projects will increase tourism to the regions unique wineries and boost the local economy, said Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria). Victorias wine industry comprises 800 wineries and 3000 vineyards, employing 12,000 people and generating $1.5 billion each year, much of that in Northern Victoria. The wine growth fund aims to grow the industry by providing innovative growers, organisations and projects with funding to expand locally and internationally. Ms Symes statement released to coincide with the grant announcements said the 20 projects to be funded ranged from strategic marketing and brand planning to infrastructure upgrades. Tourism North East chief executive Amber Gardener said the grants acknowledged the importance of the winery sector to the region with 13 High Country businesses securing grant funding from the program. Tourism North East is included in this number, securing $50,000 towards a $100,000 project that will deliver market insights that are key in driving innovation and growth in High Country winery tourism, informing future product and infrastructure development and regional marketing efforts, she said. Caption Text: FINE WINE: Beechworth vigneron Karen Coats from Virago offered nebbiolo at Saturdays Beechworth Vignerons Association Spring tasting in the Servicemens Memorial Hall, in which 28 association members participated. PHOTO: Jamie Kronborg Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.