2026 – 2027 Outbound Knowledge Bursary Program
The Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary Program aims to facilitate reciprocal knowledge sharing within the Great Wine Capitals Global Network . Adelaide, South Australia has been a member of the network since 2016, sitting alongside 10 other Capitals home to the world’s best wine regions.
Key dates
Applications close Friday 3 July 2026 at 5 pm.
Eligibility
The Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary Program is an opportunity for wine industry professionals in South Australia to travel overseas, explore new ideas and innovations, build capacity through international experience and knowledge exchange, and share South Australian expertise on the global stage. It is intended to support individuals who may not otherwise have access to this sort of opportunity and/or to enable topics to be studied that may not otherwise be supported.
Candidates with expertise in one or more of the following areas of interest are invited to apply:
- Tourism
Regional wine travel trends, experience development, customer service, tourism marketing, customer journey mapping, wine consumer insights, and destination development. - Sustainability
Tourism, vineyard, winery, production, or packaging. - Research and academia
Researchers and PhD students with commercial-ready solutions to existing problems, and researchers with collaboration opportunities with the South Australian industry in the areas of wine business, tourism, viticulture, and oenology.
Winemaking
Winemakers with a focus on emerging grape varieties, those who are targeting specific wine consumers, no and low alcohol winemaking. - Viticulture
Especially those with experience in adapting practices to climate change, biosecurity, agricultural technology, emerging varieties, and water management. - Technical innovations in the grape and wine industry – sponsored by the Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference. For individuals keen to explore technical innovations in the grape and wine industry, in line with Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference objectives.
- Storytelling, communications or digital media
Content creation, telling the South Australian wine story, social/digital media strategy, using digital tools to engage visitors or consumers.
Special travel opportunity in 2026
From 18 to 22 October 2026, the Great Wine Capitals Annual International Conference and AGM will be held in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. The annual conference consistently proves to be an opportunity for meaningful connection and collaboration with our Great Wine Capitals partners from across the globe. We welcome applications for travel to Hawke’s Bay that incorporates conference attendance.
Read more about the program and register.
Program details
Bursary recipients will be given the opportunity to travel to one or more Great Wine Capitals to exchange ideas and expand their networks.
The program provides a bursary of $6,000 for travel between October 2026 and March 2027.
During their travels, bursary recipients will connect with leading industry, regional and academic experts, sharing their own insights while gaining valuable knowledge about global practices, innovations, and operations in their chosen field.
The bursary can be used to cover the cost of travel to another Great Wine Capital, as well as:
- Travel and accommodation
- Meetings with industry experts
- Immersion experiences, visits and tours of relevant businesses or facilities
- Attending a relevant conference in a Great Wine Capital.
On return, recipients must submit a report on the costs and benefits of their travel, publish a feature-length blog with images or video, and present their learnings at a relevant regional or industry event to share insights and build capability within their field in South Australia.
The program is supported by Great Wine Capitals Adelaide, South Australia which is a partnership between the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australian Tourism Commission, South Australian Wine Industry Association and Adelaide University. An additional bursary is generously supported by the Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference.
How to apply
- Read the Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary Program guidelines ( ).
- Gather your supporting documentation and information.
- Use the application guide ( ) to prepare your responses.
- Complete the online application form.
PLEASE NOTE: Once started, you must complete your online application; applications cannot be saved. We recommend drafting your responses in a word doc and inputting them to the portal when you’re ready.
Be inspired by past bursary recipients
The alumni of bursary recipients are located across South Australian wine regions, and are active in a number of areas of the wine and wine tourism industries. What they have in common is a curiosity about what South Australia can share with as well as learn from other Great Wine Capitals.
Discover the insights they gathered through their international exchanges, and their ideas about how South Australia can harness these insights and apply them to help shape the future of the local industry:
- Read more on our Great Wine Capital Blog.
- Watch the 2024–25 Outbound Knowledge Exchange videos.
- Watch the 2023 Outbound Knowledge Exchange videos.
Testimonials
Sarah Lavelle from Sevenhill Cellars travelled to Napa Valley:
Thanks to the Adelaide Great Wine Capitals Outbound Knowledge Exchange program, I had the opportunity to step outside the domestic market and take a closer look at how the world’s leading wine regions are navigating the same challenges we’re facing at home.
Hanne Norvag Thomas from Langhorne Creek Wine Region travelled to Hawke’s Bay:
The lessons learned from my time in Hawke’s Bay proved invaluable to help develop and drive Langhorne Creek’s own tourism strategy. We can draw inspiration from the premium, personalised tasting experiences and the community-focused trail model of Hawke’s Bay Trails… Working alongside local government and the Ngarrindjeri nation will also be essential in honouring our indigenous heritage, just as Hawke’s Bay has worked successfully with the Māori community.
Tyson Bitter from Treasury Wine Estates travelled to Porto:
The insights gained from this experience will … support South Australia’s efforts to build climate resilience, and contribute to the ongoing rejuvenation of the fortified category. This visit has delivered significant long‑term benefits to my work, deepening my understanding of both traditional and modern winemaking techniques while reinforcing the value of thinking boldly and creatively.
Suzanne McLoughlin from the Australian Wine Research Institute travelled to Hawke’s Bay:
Many thanks to the Great Wine Capitals Outbound Knowledge Exchange program for offering these opportunities as it’s not until you get out of your ‘bubble’ that you can truly reflect on both what you need to be thankful for, and where you need to be spending the effort to prevent issues others grapple with on a daily basis.
Photo: Tyson Bitter visiting a wine museum in Porto
