The AWRI provides regulatory and technical advice to the Australian wine industry through the Managing Director, the Health and Regulatory Information Manager and members of the Industry Development and Support team. The AWRI handles approximately 150 independent information requests annually, on technical, scientific and regulatory issues from government, industry and the general public. The AWRI also prepares numerous position papers and submissions in relation to viticulture and oenological practices.

The AWRI is represented on the following committees of relevance to regulatory matters:

• the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation's Compliance Committee and Legislation Review Committee;
• the Winemakers' Federation of Australia's Wine Industry Technical Advisory Committee;
• South Australian Wine Industry Council;
• Wine Committee of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia;
• The Winemaker's Federation of Australia Wine Industry National Environment Committee; and
• Organisation internationale de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV) Health and Safety Commission (IV)

The AWRI’s Library (the John Fornachon Memorial Library) maintains the largest collection of wine-related literature in the southern hemisphere. It also houses an extensive print collection of European Union wine and grape legislation (updated weekly) which is linked electronically to the European Union’s CELEX online database.