Australian wine
The Australian wine industry is one of the world's largest exporters of wine, with approximately 800 million out of the 1.2 to 1.3 billion litres produced annually exported to overseas markets.[1] The wine industry is a significant contributor to the Australian economy through production, employment, export, and tourism.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
There is a $3.5 billion domestic market for Australian wines, with Australians consuming approximately 500 million litres annually.[9] Norfolk Islanders are the second biggest per capita wine consumers in the world with 54 litres.[10] Only 16.6% of wine sold domestically is imported.[1]
Wine is produced in every state, with more than 60 designated wine regions totalling approximately 160,000 hectares; however Australia's wine regions are mainly in the southern, cooler parts of the country, with vineyards located in
. Wines are often labelled with the name of their grape variety, which must constitute at least 85 percent of the wine.History
Early Australian winemakers faced many difficulties, particularly due to the unfamiliar Australian climate. But because it is also warm, dry, and Mediterranean overall, making Australia ideal for wine production, they eventually achieved considerable success. "At the 1873 Vienna Exhibition the French judges, tasting blind, praised some wines from Victoria, but withdrew in protest when the provenance of the wine was revealed, on the grounds that wines of that quality must clearly be French."[14] Australian wines continued to win high honours in French competitions. A Victorian Syrah (also called Shiraz) competing in the 1878 Paris Exhibition was likened to Château Margaux and "its taste completed its trinity of perfection."[14] One Australian wine won a gold medal "first class" at the 1882 Bordeaux International Exhibition and another won a gold medal "against the world" at the 1889 Paris International Exhibition.[14] That was all before the destructive effects on the industry of the phylloxera epidemic.
Australia has rapidly become a world leader in both the quantity and quality of wines it produces. For example, Australian wine exports to the US rose from 578,000 cases in 1990 to 20,000,000 cases in 2004 and in 2000 it exported more wine than France to the UK for the first time in history.
The industry has at times suffered from its own productivity. In the late 1980s, governments sponsored growers to pull out their vines to overcome a glut of winegrapes. Low grape prices in 2005 and 2006 have led to calls for another sponsored vine pull.[15] Cleanskin wines were introduced into Australia during the 1960s as a means to combat oversupply and poor sales.
During the
In 2020, China placed taxes of more than 200% on Australian wines at a time when China was Australia's most lucrative market.[18] As relations between the two countries improved the tariffs were removed in March 2024.[18]
In 2024, in part due to overproduction as well as falling consumption, Australian vignerons uprooted millions of vines.[19]
Grape varieties
Major
About 130 different grape varieties are used by commercial winemakers in Australia. Over recent years many winemakers have been rediscovering so-called "alternative varieties" other than those listed above. Many varieties from France, Italy and Spain, for example
Australian winemaking results have been impressive and it has established benchmarks for a number of varietals, such as Chardonnay, Pinot noir and Shiraz. Moreover, Australians have innovated in
Grape | Area Ha (04)[22] | Area Ha (05)[22] | Area Ha (06)[23] | Area Ha (07)[22] | Area Ha (08)[22] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shiraz | 39,182 | 40,508 | 41,115 | 43,417 | 43,977 |
Cabernet Sauvignon | 29,313 | 28,621 | 28,103 | 27,909 | 27,553 |
Merlot | 10,804 | 10,816 | 10,593 | 10,790 | 10,764 |
Pinot noir | 4,424 | 4,231 | 4,254 | 4,393 | 4,490 |
Grenache | 2,292 | 2,097 | 2,025 | 2,011 | 2,011 |
Mourvedre | 1,040 | 963 | 875 | 794 | 785 |
Other Red | 11,235 | 10,797 | 7,002 | 11,309 | 10,902 |
Grape | Area Ha (04)[22] | Area Ha (05)[22] | Area Ha (06)[23] | Area Ha (07)[22] | Area Ha (08)[22] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chardonnay | 28,008 | 30,507 | 31,219 | 32,151 | 31,564 |
Sémillon | 6,278 | 6,282 | 6,236 | 6,752 | 6,716 |
Sauvignon blanc | 3,425 | 4,152 | 4,661 | 5,545 | 6,404 |
Riesling | 4,255 | 4,326 | 4,400 | 4,432 | 4,400 |
Other White | 23,925 | 23,365 | 17,683 | 24,303 | 23,109 |
GSM blends
GSM is a name commonly used for a red wine consisting of a blend of Grenache, Shiraz (Syrah), and Mourvèdre.[24] Blends where Shiraz is the main component are sometimes referred to instead as SGM.[25]
This blend originated from those used in some
Grenache is the lightest of the three grapes, producing a pale red juice with soft berry scents and a bit of spiciness. As a blending component, it contributes alcohol, warmth and fruitiness without added
Production
Australia's most famous wine is
Australia has almost 2000 wine producers, most of whom are small winery operations. The market is dominated by a small number of major wine companies. The largest wineries are the Casella winery in Yenda, NSW (Yellow Tail wines) and the Berri Estates winery in Glossop, SA. The ownership of wineries varies but their location has largely been the same since the introduction of stainless steel tanks in the 1990s, there was a major change in the wine industry in the 1980s when local winegrower cooperatives ceased operations or were privatised.[citation needed]
The majority of grapes are grown in warm climate regions, including the Riverina, Murray Valley and Riverland wine regions, located in southern NSW, north western Victoria and South Australia. A 2019 report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission examined grape production in these areas and the myriad competition and consumer issues facing growers.[32]
Major wine regions
The information included on wine labels is strictly regulated. One aspect of this is that the label must not make any false or misleading statements about the source of the grapes. Many names (called geographic indications) are protected. These are divided into "South Eastern Australia", the state names, zones (shown in the map), regions, and subregions.[33] The largest volume of wine is produced from grapes grown in the warm climate Murray-Darling Basin zones of Lower Murray, North Western Victoria and Big Rivers. In general, the higher-value premium wines are made from smaller and cooler-climate regions.
The South Australian wine industry is responsible for most of the production of wine in Australia.[34] In recent years, the Tasmanian wine industry has emerged as a producer of high quality wines. In particular, the Tamar Valley has developed a reputation for its Chardonnay and Pinot noir, which are well suited to the cooler Tasmanian climate. Queensland is also developing a wine industry with over 100 vineyards registered in the state. Some notable wines are produced in the high-altitude Granite Belt region in the state's extreme south, production is centred on the towns of Stanthorpe and Ballandean.
Some well-known wine-producing regions include:
- Alpine Valleys
- Beechworth
- Goulburn Valley
- Grampians
- Heathcote wine region
- Henty
- Mornington Peninsula
- Pyrenees
- Rutherglen
- Strathbogie Wine Region
- Yarra Valley
- King Valley
- Bendigo
- Glenrowan wine region
Greater Perth:
South Western Australia:
- Blackwood Valley
- Geographe
- Manjimup
- Margaret River
- Pemberton
- Great Southern:
- Albany
- Denmark
- Frankland River
- Mount Barker
- Porongurup
- Tamar Valley
- Derwent Valley
- Huon Valley / Channel
- Coal River Valley
- Pipers River
- East Coast
- North West
Export markets
The Australian Wine export market was worth 2.8 billion Australian dollars (A$) a year in June 2007, having grown at 9%pa.[37] Of this about A$2 billion is accounted for by North America and the UK. 2007 statistics for the North American market show that Australian wine accounted for a 17% share of the total value of US imported wine, behind France with 31% and Italy with 28%.[38]
New marketing strategies developed for the key UK market encouraged customers to explore premium Australian brands while maintaining sales of the lower-margin high-volume brands, following research that indicated a celebratory dinner was more likely to be accompanied by an inferior French wine than a premium Australian wine.[39] This is partly due to exchange rate fluctuations, making Australian wines appear much cheaper than French wines in the UK and hence perceived as being of poorer quality. While this situation may be somewhat mitigated by the continued rise in the Australian dollar during 2010, the stronger currency threatens to weaken Australian exports to the crucial US market.
Australian wine accounts for a very large imported wine market share in South Asian countries and is the second largest imported wine in India with a market share of 16%.[40] Australia was China's largest supplier of imported wine, a standing achieved in part by free-trade agreements established between the two countries.[41] However, in retaliation for the Australian government's support of an inquiry into the origins of Covid-19, China imposed tariffs of over 200% on Australian wine in October 2020. These tariffs have been lifted as of April 2024 following an improvement in relations between the two countries.[42]
Canada is the fourth-largest export market for Australian wines with the major exporting provinces being British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. With the restrictions on the sale of Australian wine being removed in British Columbia, Australian wine will be on more shelves in the province with lower tariffs.[43]
Government spending
Australian wine research and production is supported by the government through partnerships with the publicly funded CSIRO and Wine Australia worth $18 million.[44][45] In an average year, alcohol production in Australia is estimated to produce between $3.3 and $5.5 billion in taxable income.
See also
- Agriculture in Australia
- Australian and New Zealand Wine Industry Journal
- Australian Wine Research Institute
- Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology
- Australia's First Families of Wine
- Good Food & Wine Show
- Huon Hooke (wine critic)
- Langton's Classification of Australian Wine
- National Wine Centre of Australia
- Wine Australia
- Winemaking
References
Notes
- ^ a b "Australian wine: Production, sales and inventory report, 2018-19". wineaustralia.com. Wine Australia. 12 February 2020. Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
- ^ International Organization of Wine and Vine (24 June 2002). "Situation of the world viticultural sector in 2006". Winebiz.com.au. Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
- ^ "Australian Wine Industry Statistics". Winebiz.com.au. Archived from the original on 21 August 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
- ISBN 0-470-04579-5.
- ISBN 0-7566-1324-8
- ^ "Wine Australia". Wineaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
- ISBN 978-1-84533-414-7.
- ISBN 978-0151009138.
- ^ "Australian wine: Production, sales and inventory report, 2018-19". wineaustralia.com. Wine Australia. 12 February 2020. Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
- ^ "Per Capita Wine Consumption by Country – Ranked by Per Capita Consumption 2007–2010" (PDF). Table 7.1. The Wine Institute – Trade Data And Analysis. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
- ^ ISBN 0-316-72874-8.
- ^ Hartley, Clive, The Australian Wine Guide, Hospitality Books, NSW 2002
- ^ Walsh, Gerald (1979). "The Wine Industry of Australia 1788 1979". Wine Talk. [A.N.U. Canberra]. Archived from the original on 28 August 2006. Retrieved 8 September 2006.
- ^ ISBN 0-7139-9432-0.
- ^ Haxton, Nance (5 June 2006). "Grape glut: call for subsidised vine pull". PM. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 August 2006.
- ^ Williams, David (16 February 2020). "How bushfires have hit Australia's winemakers". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ Adams, Prue (21 March 2020). "Winemakers get creative to salvage smoke-tainted grapes". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ a b Mao, Frances (28 March 2024). "China removes tariffs on Australian wine as relations improve". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ Hobson, Peter (11 March 2024). "Australian farmers rip out millions of vines amid wine glut". Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ ISBN 0-7607-4220-0.
- ^ "Australian wine regions - Wine tasting & tours | Winetourism.com". www.winetourism.com. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-74066-754-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-74066-515-5.
- ISBN 0-19-860990-6
- ^ Wine Enthusiast, G-S-M
- ^ Wine Folly, Time to Try 'GSM' The Côtes du Rhône Blend, Madeline Puckette, 4 December 2013
- ISBN 1-85732-999-6
- ^ The Economist (16 December 1999 ). The globe in a glass
- ^ a b c d e "news - Langton's Fine Wines". Langtons.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Langton's Classification of Australian Wine IV - Articles". Jancisrobinson.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Langton's Australian Wine Classification IV - Appellation Australia". Camwheeler.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
- ^ "Wine Grape market study: Final Report" (PDF). Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. September 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
- Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation. 2003. Archivedfrom the original on 19 August 2006. Retrieved 5 September 2006.
- ^ "South Australia". Wine Australia. Archived from the original on 9 April 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
- ^ "Western Australia's Wine Regions". Wine Australia. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
- ^ "Wine Trails - Wine Tasmania - Welcome to the world of Tasmanian wine". Winetasmania.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
- ^ The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation Wine Export Approval Report Excerpts Archived 21 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ U.S. Department of Commerce "U.S. Wine Industry – 2008" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2008. (37.8 KB)
- ^ Winemakers' Federation of Australia Strategy (May 2007), "Wine Australia: Directions to 2025" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2007. (355 KB)
- ^ "Wine Industry India". Imaginmor.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
- ^ Worobiec, MaryAnn (March 2018). "Chinese Wine Titan Invests in Australia". Wine Spectator: 16.
- ^ "China lifts steep Australian wine tariffs as relations improve". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ "Here's cheers to Aussie winemakers after trade win against Canada".
- PMID 30910297.
- ^ CSIRO. "Wine Australia and CSIRO sign $37 million investment agreement". www.csiro.au. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
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