About 250 people gathered at Chateau Tanunda on Wednesday, for the second Barossa Generations Lunch.

The $80-per-ticket event featured a panel of speakers and was moderated by Jane Ferrari, Yalumba winemaker.

While Jane had the crowd in stitches of laughter, there were plenty of serious points to ponder raised by the panel.

The speakers included John Duval, winemaker; Prue Henschke, viticulturist; Mark McNamara, chef; Stefan Ahrens, businessman; and Bob McLean, former marketer and now winemaker.

The most pertinent topic covered was the state of the wine industry.

The long lunch came just weeks after the Wine Restructuring Action Agenda was revealed, with an oversupply reality check.

This statement is still a talking point for the Barossa Grape and Wine Association, wine making companies, winemakers and grape growers.

Prue Henschke, who leads the viticulture team for the famous Henschke winery, reminded people of industry estimations of up to 20 per cent oversupply, and a similar percentage of vineyard that is deemed uneconomical.

“We’ve all heard the figures,” Mrs Henschke said.

“And we know it is mainly the vineyards that supply ‘E-grade’ fruit that are uneconomical.”

Mrs Henschke said some growers will have to seriously consider withdrawing from the industry.

“My favourite term is mothball,” she said.

(A mothballed vineyard would be retained with minimal maintenance and no efforts made to harvest or sell grapes.)

“It is up to us to finger point.

“If you’re not earning over $1000 a tonne there’s something wrong and you need to mothball or do something different.

“Some growers will have to find jobs elsewhere for a while.”

The panel had a clear message for the crowd.

Although times may be tough, the Barossa can lead the Australian wine industry recovery.

“I don’t know who started the rumour and propaganda about the Australian wine sector struggles,” Ms Ferrari said.

“But we have got to tell people that it is not all true.

Bob McLean backed the Barossa to come up trumps.

“Across the market ‘Barossa’ is still the biggest word in the whole wine industry,” he said.

“Own it.

“We have got to sell the positives.

“And there are positives everywhere.”