Grants up to $100,000 to support wine and cider producers who enhance visitor experiences, encourage regional tourism, industry growth, and promote Australia’s vibrant wine regions.
On this page you will find
What is the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant (WTCD)?
The Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant (WTCD) is designed to:
- Offset costs associated with running a cellar door, making it more sustainable for producers to maintain and expand visitor-facing operations.
- Provide direct financial relief tied to actual sales performance, calculated as 29% of the notional wholesale selling price of eligible rebatable domestic cellar door sales (capped at $100,000 per producer, per year).
This program forms part of a broader suite of measures developed in consultation with the Australian wine industry following reforms to the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) rebate arrangements. It complements the $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package and is administered by Wine Australia on behalf of the Commonwealth in line with the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines.
Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants level of support
Grants
- Minimum grant available: No set minimum.
- Maximum grant available: $100,000 per applicant, per year.
- Funding mechanism: Annual grant payment.
- Calculation: 29% of the notional wholesale selling price of eligible domestic cellar door sales.
- Cap: $10 million per financial year. If eligible applications exceed this cap, individual payments will be reduced proportionally across all successful applicants.
Co-contribution
- Co-contribution: Not required. The grant is based solely on eligible sales and compliance with the program rules.
Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants important dates
- Applications Close: 31 October 2025 (5.00 pm ACDT)
- Decision Notification: 13 November 2025
- Grant Payments Made: 28 November 2025
- Recipients Published on GrantConnect: 15 December 2025
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants objectives
The grant aims to:
- Support wine and cider producers who add value through wine tourism and regional cellar door operations.
- Encourage increased visitation to wine regions across Australia.
- Provide direct financial assistance that reflects actual cellar door sales performance.
Sales eligible for Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants support
Sales that qualify include:
- Sales of rebatable wine* made in person at the physical cellar door.
- Sales where the purchase is made onsite and later shipped to the customer’s Australian address.
- At least 50% of eligible sales must occur onsite at the physical cellar door.
*rebatable wine relates to wine or a sale that is eligible for producer rebates as described under Division 19 of A New Tax System (Wine Equalisation Tax) Act 1999.
The following are not eligible:
- Mail order purchases completed away from the cellar door.
- Online purchases made without visiting the cellar door.
- Wine club memberships initiated online or offsite.
- Purchases made outside the premises of the cellar door.
Other Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants support
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a wine or cider producer.
- Be a legal entity registered for GST with an active ABN.
- Have made at least $1,207,000 (GST exclusive) in rebatable wine sales in the 2024–25 financial year.
- Have domestic cellar door sales above the $1,207,000 threshold.
- Have paid the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) on all eligible sales.
- Have owned or leased a physical cellar door in Australia during 2024–25 (directly or through a related entity).
- Hold a valid liquor licence for the relevant year.
See the guidelines for full details of organisational requirements.
Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants assessment criteria
The program is demand driven, meaning that all eligible applicants who meet the criteria will receive funding, subject to the $10 million cap.
Eligibility Check: Wine Australia reviews all applications for compliance with program guidelines.
Grant Calculation:
- If the total value of applications is under $10 million, applicants receive their full calculated entitlement (up to $100,000).
- If oversubscribed, funding will be reduced proportionally for all applicants using a formula:
Step 1: (Total Value of Applications – $10,000,000) ÷ Total Value of Applications × 100 = % oversubscribed
Step 2: 100% – % oversubscribed = % of payment applicants receive
Step 3: Full eligible claim × % of payment applicants receive = Adjusted Payment Amount
Audit and Monitoring:
-
- Wine Australia may conduct random spot audits of successful applicants.
- Applicants must keep financial records for five years.
- Overpayments must be repaid if errors or misreporting are found.
- Providing false or misleading information may lead to ineligibility for future rounds and possible legal consequences.
How do I get the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants?
To successfully receive funding under the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant (Round 7), applicants should demonstrate that they:
- Meet all eligibility criteria
- Have paid the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) on all eligible rebatable sales used in the application.
- Accurately calculate eligible sales, using the notional wholesale selling price as required.
- Show that at least 50% of the eligible sales came directly from the cellar door premises.
- Provide correct and complete documentation.
- Submit the application on time, via the official Wine Australia online grants portal.
- Maintain accurate financial and sales records for at least five years, in case of audit.
- Be transparent and truthful – providing false or misleading information can lead to ineligibility for this and future rounds, as well as potential legal consequences.
By clearly demonstrating all of the above, applicants will put themselves in the best position to receive funding.
Information to prepare for the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants application
Applicants should prepare the following before lodging an application:
- Completed Statutory Declaration using the template provided in the portal.
- Evidence of ownership/lease – lease agreement, mortgage, or certificate of title (including map page).
- Liquor licence valid for the relevant financial year.
Additionally:
- Review the program guidelines thoroughly.
- Ensure use of notional wholesale selling price when calculating sales figures.
- Check the FAQs and statutory declaration guide published by Wine Australia.
See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.
Applying for the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants
Applications must be submitted online via the Wine Australia grants portal. No modifications to the official application form are allowed.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants resources
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