Murray Valley Winegrowers (MVW) has released its annual wine grape crush report for the Murray-Darling and Swan Hill wine regions.
The 2023 report indicates that production from independent growers and winery-owned vineyards in the Murray-Darling and Swan Hill regions was collectively 205,000 tonnes.
This is down significantly on the 327,000 tonnes produced in 2022, and well below the 355,000-tonne average of the previous five years.
In 2023, Grower tonnages reduced by 38 percent, being 135,000 tonnes (216,000t in 2022), whilst Winery-owned vineyards decreased by 37 percent, producing 70,000 tonnes (111,000t in 2022).
The national wine grape crush was an estimated 1.32 million tonnes in 2023 (1.73Mt in 2022), being the lowest since the year 2000 and 26 percent lower than the 10-year average.
Most red grape prices continued to weaken in 2023, the average price of Cabernet Sauvignon reduced by 12% to $339/tonne; Shiraz averaged $337/t, down by 13% and Merlot was $336/t, dropping by 15%.
Pinot Noir was in demand again in 2023, reflected in an improved average price of $715/t, an increase of 3%.
Notably, mainstream red grape prices are half what they were only three years ago (vintage 2020)
White grape prices generally tended to decrease or were somewhat static; Chardonnay averaged $383/t, a reduction of 7% on 2022 prices; Gordo $335/t (down 1%); Prosecco continued to lead the way with the whites pricing at $661/t (notwithstanding a fall of 12%), Sauvignon Blanc held at $570/t ($571 in V22), Semillon $330/t (down 6%) & Pinot Gris was $532/t (down 1%).
Chardonnay maintained its top position on the production list with 51,000 tonnes (83kt in V22), followed by Shiraz with 46,000t (70kt), then Cabernet Sauvignon 20,000t (40kt), Sauvignon Blanc 18,000t (22kt), Pinot Gris 13,000t (23kt), Gordo 10,000t (19kt) & Merlot 8,000t (18kt).
Prosecco made its way into the top 10 for the first time with approximately 4,500t (3,850t in 2022).
Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/wine-white-red-isolated-glass-1717650/
