180-year-old Australian winemaking company, Penfolds, has announced the recipients of its inaugural Penfolds Evermore Grant Program. Four projects that contribute to the community have been selected to share in $200,000 of funding.
The Treasury Wine Estates owned winemakers announced the grant program last year, pledging $1 million over five years, taking place in different regions. The next grant round will launch in France in early 2025.
Evermore is Penfolds’ community and sustainability platform, championing the company in three strategic areas – Community and Culture, Future Winemaking, and Toward Sustainability. As such, more than 80 applicants to the grant program, encompassing businesses, individuals, and community organisations were assessed on their projects’ reflection of the Penfold brand’s values.
Penfolds chief marketing officer, Kristy Keyte, said that the company was pleased to celebrate Penfolds 180th anniversary by awarding grants to recipients 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,” she said.
2024 grant recipients
Victoria-based textile repurposing organisation, A Fitting Connection, received $66,000 towards its ReFELT – Empowering Abilities Through Sustainable Textiles project. The program will collaborate with local creatives and artists to create unique products inspired by wine culture, support participants with the set-up of micro businesses, and provide the textile tech curriculum at Banyule Nillumbik Tech School.
South Australian Mobius Farms will use its $54,000 grant to assess the impacts of insect frass on vineyard soil and plant health, using winemaking residue, grape marc.
A regenerative community initiative in New South Wales, the Planting Seeds B&B Highway project, will focus on planting native vegetation to provide habitats for birds, bees, plants and other pollinators. The organisation was awarded $50,000 towards its goals, which include an educational program with outdoor excursions encouraging sustainable environmental practices.
The Barossa Farmers Market will use its $30,000 to create a community Kitchen Library, acting as a knowledge sharing hub, providing food preparation equipment and educational workshops. It aims to connect people to local produce, reduce reliance on supermarket supply chains, and empower the community to manage food security sustainably.
