The Coonawarra Vignerons has been announced as recipients of Wine Australia’s regionally-focused leadership program – Next Crop for 2025.


Funded by Wine Australia, Next Crop enables wine regions to design and deliver a leadership development offering tailored to their unique needs, allowing emerging leaders in the wine sector to have new opportunities to develop their skills.


Coonawarra Vignerons President Dan Redman (pictured) highlighted the opportunity for the region.


“Coonawarra is honoured to be part of the Wine Australia Next Crop program,” he said.


“As a world-renowned wine region, we strive to strengthen our position as a leader in fine Cabernet production. This program will develop leadership and governance skills in our emerging leaders, enabling them to tackle regional wine sector challenges.


“By fostering solution-driven thinkers, we support both industry growth and personal development. The Coonawarra Next Crop program will enhance our region’s resilience, ensuring a strong future for our wine community.”


The Coonawarra Next Crop Regional Leadership program will be available for a cohort of up to 15 people, with a diverse, curated mix of participants from Coonawarra Grape and Wine member organisations, regional leaders associated with the wine sector and others from the Limestone Coast region.


Experienced collaborator Matthew Wright-Simon from Engage Change has been appointed to guide the development of the Coonawarra Next Crop Leadership Program.


“I love engaging with leaders who are strongly connected with where they work, live and play,” Mr Wright-Simon said.


“The Coonawarra Next Crop program will celebrate its people and places as our cohort immerses itself in the challenges and opportunities for grassroots leadership in an increasingly globalised world.”


It is anticipated that expressions of interest for the program will be open mid-March with the program running from July to November.