In the Media.
Reported in ABC Rural / By Cassandra Hough, Kellie Hollingworth, and Annie Brown
From the article:
The 2023 Australian wine grape vintage has recorded its lowest harvest since 2000, with challenging economic and weather conditions taking a toll. The Wine Australia National Wine Vintage Report states that 1.32 million tonnes of wine grapes were harvested, down 26% from the 10-year average. Inland regions, such as the Riverland, Murray Darling-Swan Hill, and Riverina, experienced a significant 28% drop in crush. Factors like yield caps, uncontracted grapes, and adverse weather contributed to the decline. While prices decreased, the trend of "premiumisation" continued for high-quality wines. The smaller vintage is expected to help reduce excess inventory.
Key data from the article:
| 2023 Vintage | Change from 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Harvested Wine Grapes (in tonnes) | 1.32 million | -26% |
| Riverland Region Crush (in tonnes) | 899,936t | -28% |
| Murray-Darling and Swan Hill region | 205,000t | -37% |
| Rest of the Country Crush (in tonnes) | - | -15% |
| Average Price Paid for Red Grapes (in %) | -21% | - |
| Average Price Paid for White Grapes (in %) | -5% | - |
| Total Estimated Value of Crush (in million) | $983 | -19% |
Read the full article: Weather, economic factors drive smallest Australian wine grape vintage in more than 20 years via the ABC website