One of South Australia’s most iconic South Australian wine brands, Penfolds, has announced the first recipients of the their Evermore Grant Program. This exciting new initiative has awarded $200,000 in funding to four innovative projects across Australia that align with community and cultural enhancement. More than 80 applications were submitted by businesses, individuals, and organisations nationwide. Two of the four recipients are South Australian based.
The Evermore Grant Program symbolises Penfolds’ commitment as a global winemaker to contribute positively to the communities it touches. This initiative is part of a broader sustainability strategy by Treasury Wine Estates, aimed at supporting projects that encapsulate Penfolds’ ethos of ‘venturing beyond’.
Kristy Keyte, Chief Marketing Officer at Penfolds, remarked on the occasion, “What a way to celebrate Penfolds 180th anniversary – awarding our first grants to recipients who are focused on delivering community impact, changing the landscape of their own sector, and contributing to positive change in the wine industry. This program is our opportunity to use our business as a force for good and continue to look to the future for our communities around the world.”
The following are the four successful projects:
In Victoria, A Fitting Connection received $66,000 for their project, ReFELT Empowering Abilities Through Sustainable Textiles. The project will enable the acquisition of a FeltLOOM to transform textile waste into recycled fabrics. It will also offer workshops to empower individuals with disabilities to design new fabric, collaborate with local artists, and create unique products that resonate with wine culture.
New South Wales’ Planting Seeds Project was granted $50,000 for the B&B Highway, a regenerative initiative focused on bees, birds, and other pollinators crucial to biodiversity. This educational effort will establish habitats and involve local communities through learning programs, enhancing local ecosystem resilience.
In South Australia, Mobius Farms has been facilitated with $54,000 to fund their project on Closing the Loop on Grape Marc through Insect Bioconversion. This pioneering project aims to utilise grape marc, a byproduct of winemaking, to improve soil and plant health in vineyards through the development of nutrient-rich insect frass.
Lastly, Barossa Farmers Market received $30,000 for the Barossa Farmers Market Kitchen Library. This unique project aims to foster community connection through a library of kitchen tools and educational workshops that promote healthy, local eating and sustainable food practices.
Penfolds has committed $1 million over five years to the Evermore Grant Program, which will continue to support similar initiatives in different regions around the world. The next round of grants will be launched in France in early 2025.
The Evermore Grant Program’s success has not gone unnoticed, as it was recently celebrated at the 2024 Just Drinks Excellence Awards, winning the Social Excellence: Investing in community and innovation award among four others by TWE.
More information about the grant winners and their projects will be available in the upcoming Meet the Recipients series. For more details on the Evermore initiative, visit the Penfolds website.
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