WIne production down 20% in Murray Valley

The volume of grapes crushed for wine in the Murray Darling and Swan Hill regions fell by more than 20 per cent in the 2011 vintage, according to the latest survey by the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI).

DPI’s Murray Darling/Swan Hill Wine Grape Crush Survey for 2011 found that the total crush for wine declined from 328,147 tonnes in 2010 to 256,398 tonnes this year. That is a hell of a lot of wine for Aussie loving lushes.

It also found that in 2011, a further 24,408 tonnes were processed for concentrate. Which means that all the water has been removed and will sold for wine making kits.

DPI Regional Facilitator for Murray Darling and Swan Hill, Kristen Pitt said wineries growing and purchasing fruit had for the first time this year reported on fruit crushed for concentrate or distillate as the poor seasonal conditions resulted in higher disease and some lower quality fruit. So look out for some cheap wine making kits.

Ms Pitt said the estimated value of all wine grapes crushed in the two regions fell from $96.3 million in 2010 to $73.6 million this year ($77.7 million including the value of grapes crushed for distillate and concentrate).

“Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc were the top five varieties regionally crushed in 2011, followed by Muscat Gordo Blanco, Colombard and Semillon,” Ms Pitt said.

She said growers met 78 per cent of demand for white wine grapes and 81 per cent of red.

“The calculated average purchase value per tonne for many varieties decreased again in 2011,” Ms Pitt said.

“Two exceptions to this were Chardonnay and Muscat Gordo Blanco, which increased their calculated average purchase value.”