One month dedicated to Aussie wine

A South Australian winemaker has taken a pledge to only drink Australian wine until Australia Day.

Steve Pannell from McLaren Vale signed this pledge on January 1st and has encouraged 1,300 others to do the same.

Mr Pannell says he hopes it becomes an annual event because he believes winemakers should continue to be ambassadors for the industry.

"When you go to the doctor or you meet anybody and you say you're a wine maker they automatically ask oh what should I be drinking.

"So the most obvious thing is a) I could drink Australian wine and b) I could recommend it to other people the good ones that were going on.

"Because it's been very difficult especially with the exchange rate overseas and there's been some negativity about it, especially Australian wine and that's not the case."