South Australia's grape growing area can be divided into easily recognisable regions based on inherent differences in geographical location, climate and soil condition. The area ranges from the Clare-Watervale district in the north to the Coonawarra region in the south-east of the state.
Data for 2004-05 indicate there were 67,000 hectares of bearing vines in South Australia with a further 4,400 hectares planted but not yet bearing fruit. A total of 862,000 tonnes of grapes were produced and virtually all (99%) were grown for winemaking.
Four varieties of grapes accounted for 70% of all production: shiraz (236,000 tonnes), cabernet sauvignon (160,000 tonnes), chardonnay (151,000 tonnes) and merlot (54,500 tonnes). Red grape production (547,000 tonnes) exceeded white grape production (314,000 tonnes).
VITICULTURE, South Australia, years ended 30 June
|
 | Vines
non-bearing | | Vines
bearing | | |
| area
'000 ha | | area
'000 ha | | Production
'000 t |
|
| 2001 | 7.2 | | 55.0 | | 675.9 |
| 2002 | 6.5 | | 60.5 | | 697.7 |
| 2003 | 6.7 | | 60.0 | | 617.0 |
| 2004 | 5.4 | | 65.0 | | 886.0 |
| 2005 | 4.4 | | 67.0 | | 861.5 |
|
Source: Agricultural Commodities, Australia (cat. no. 7121.0).
Data for 2004-05 indicate 54% of all grape production in South Australia came from the Murray Lands Statistical Division (468,000 tonnes).
VITICULTURE, 2004-05
|
| Statistical Division | Vines
non-bearing
area
'000 ha | | Vines
bearing
area
'000 ha | | Production
'000 t |
|
| Adelaide | 0.3 | | 7.4 | | 71.7 |
| Outer Adelaide | 1.5 | | 19.1 | | 183.0 |
| Yorke and Lower North | 0.2 | | 4.4 | | 28.2 |
| Murray Lands | 1.6 | | 21.8 | | 468.2 |
| South East | 0.8 | | 14.1 | | 108.5 |
| Eyre | - | | - | | 0.1 |
| Northern | - | | 0.2 | | 1.9 |
| | | | | |
| South Australia | 4.4 | | 67.0 | | 861.5 |
|
- nil or rounded to zero (includes null cells)
Source: Unpublished ABS data available on request, 2005 Vineyards Collection.
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