Grape production has increased significantly in Victoria in recent years. From 1997 to 2003, the area of bearing vines in Victoria increased by 61%.
Data for 2002-03 indicated there were 34,400 hectares of bearing vines in Victoria and a further 3,800 hectares not yet bearing fruit. A total of 405,400 tonnes of grapes were produced, with most (70%) grown for winemaking. White grape production (242,900 tonnes) exceeded red grape production (162,500 tonnes).
Four varieties of grapes accounted for 62% of all production: sultana (102,200 tonnes), chardonnay (62,500 tonnes), shiraz (46,000) and cabernet sauvignon (40,400 tonnes).
VITICULTURE, Victoria, year ended 30 June
|
 | Vines
non-bearing | Vines
bearing | |
| area
ha | area
ha | Production
'000 t |
|
| 1997(a) | 4,018 | 21,338 | 329.7 |
| 2001 | 4,623 | 32,301 | 439.7 |
| 2002 | 3,618 | 35,035 | 514.1 |
| 2003 | 3,839 | 34,446 | 405.4 |
|
(a) Year ended 31 March.
Source: Agriculture, Australia (cat. no. 7113.0) and Agricultural Commodities, Australia (cat. no. 7121.0).
Data for 2002-03 indicated 85% of all grape production in Victoria came from the Mallee Statistical Division (346,300 tonnes). This was followed by the Ovens-Murray Statistical Division with 5% of production (21,400 tonnes).
VITICULTURE, 2002-03
|
| Statistical Division | Vines
non-bearing
area
'000 ha | Vines
bearing
area
'000 ha | Production
'000 t |
|
| Melbourne | 0.3 | 2.9 | 14.1 |
| Barwon | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.4 |
| Western District | - | 0.2 | 0.5 |
| Central Highlands | 0.2 | 1.0 | 3.5 |
| Wimmera | - | 0.3 | 0.7 |
| Mallee | 2.3 | 22.9 | 346.3 |
| Loddon | 0.1 | 1.1 | 4.0 |
| Goulburn | 0.6 | 2.4 | 12.8 |
| Ovens-Murray | 0.2 | 3.1 | 21.4 |
| East Gippsland | - | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Gippsland | - | 0.1 | 0.5 |
| | | |
| Victoria | 3.8 | 34.4 | 405.4 |
|
Source: Unpublished ABS data available on request, 2003 Vineyards Collection.
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