Grape production in NSW is concentrated in the Murrumbidgee and Murray Statistical Divisions.
Data for 2004-05 indicate there were 35,800 hectares of bearing vines in NSW; a further 3,500 hectares had been planted but were not yet bearing fruit; a record 508,000 tonnes of grapes were produced and the great majority (94%) were grown for winemaking.
Four varieties of grapes accounted for just under 62% of all production: chardonnay (112,000 tonnes), shiraz (97,300 tonnes), cabernet sauvignon (56,900 tonnes) and semillon (48,200 tonnes). White grape production (274,000 tonnes) exceeded red grape production (234,000 tonnes).
VITICULTURE, NSW, year ended 30 June
|
| Vines
not yet bearing | Vines
bearing | |
| area
ha | area
ha | Production(a)
'000 t |
|
2001 | 3,516 | 31,043 | 348.7 |
2002 | 3,376 | 34,005 | 452.3 |
2003 | 2,748 | 34,291 | 386.9 |
2004 | 3,061 | 35,975 | 482.6 |
2005 | 3,501 | 35,777 | 508.3 |
|
(a) Fresh weight.
Sources: Agriculture, Australia (cat. no. 7113.0) and Agricultural Commodities, Australia (cat. no. 7121.0).
Data for 2004-05 indicate 46% of all grape production in NSW came from the Murrumbidgee Statistical Division (233,000 tonnes). This was followed by the Murray Statistical Division with 173,000 tonnes.
VITICULTURE, 2004-05
|
Statistical Division | Vines
not yet bearing
area
ha | Vines
bearing
area
ha | Production(a)
'000 t |
|
Sydney | 38 | 71 | 0.4 |
Hunter | 124 | 4,335 | 23.5 |
Illawarra | 27 | 219 | 0.8 |
Richmond-Tweed | - | 3 | - |
Mid-North Coast | 4 | 41 | 0.2 |
Northern | 18 | 330 | 2.1 |
North Western | 130 | 3,404 | 27.2 |
Central West | 317 | 3,329 | 35.9 |
South Eastern | 74 | 1,028 | 5.6 |
Murrumbidgee | 1,984 | 14,557 | 233.4 |
Murray | 758 | 8,116 | 172.8 |
Far West | 27 | 345 | 6.2 |
| | | |
New South Wales | 3,501 | 35,777 | 508.3 |
|
- zero or rounded to zero
(a) Fresh weight.
Source: Unpublished ABS data available on request, 2005 Vineyards Collection.