Vines are down but wines are up

Since 2010, the total area of vines decreased by six per cent (falling to 145,000 hectares) while total wine grape production increased by three per cent (to 1.6 million tonnes).

The decrease was due to poor market conditions leading to the removal or abandonment of vines but this was offset by good seasonal conditions and idea ripening weather which saw the overall yield increase by six per cent to 11 tonnes per hectare.

Red wine production was affected by unfavourable rain conditions in southern and eastern Australia, resulting in a national decrease of five per cent to 806,000 tonnes. However, these conditions had little effect on white wine production - which increased 13 per cent to 776,000 tonnes - as most grapes had already been picked.

Shiraz, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon continued to be the most popular wine varieties, accounting for nearly two-thirds of total production.

More than one-third of all vineyards were in South Australia, representing nearly half (48 per cent) of Australia's wine production.

806,000 tonnes of red wine grapes were harvested in the 2012 season, a fall of five per cent since 2010. There were 91,000 hectares of red wine vines (a fall of 3,000 hectares since 2010 or four per cent), accounting for 62 per cent of all vines planted in Australia.

The most popular varieties produced were Shiraz (almost half of total red wine production) at 362,000 tonnes (down 10 per cent or 41,000 tonnes since 2010), Cabernet Sauvignon at 208,000 tonnes (down 3 per cent or 6,000 tonnes) and Merlot at 117,000 tonnes (down by 12 per cent or 13,000 tonnes).

Production of white wine grapes increased nationally (up to 776,000 tonnes) and in all Australian states except for Queensland and Tasmania, while the area planted to white wine grapevines fell in all states, contributing to an eight per cent fall nationally, down to 57,000 hectares since the 2010 season.

The top white wine varieties produced were Chardonnay (almost half of national white wine production) with 348,000 tonnes (up by 17 per cent or 50,000 tonnes since 2010), Sauvignon Blanc with 81,000 tonnes (up by 13 per cent or 10,000 tonnes) and Semillon with 78,000 tonnes (up by 2 per cent or 1,000 tonnes).

Notable increases in production for other varieties include Pinot Gris, up by 28 per cent to 50,000 tonnes since 2010 and Muscat a Petit Grains Blanc (Frontignac) up by 125 per cent to 12,000 tonnes.

Over 70 per cent of Australia's white wine grapes were grown in South Australia and New South Wales (21,000 hectares and 20,000 hectares respectively).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics