1329.0.55.002 - Vineyards Estimates, Australia, 2005-06  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/12/2006   
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Estimates from the Vineyards 2006 collection show that the season 2006 was similar to the previous two seasons. Grape growers cultivated 168,800 hectares of vines, a 1% increase from the 2005 season. The total bearing area for grapes rose to 158,200 hectares, while the area not yet bearing fell again to 10,624 hectares. Red grape varieties comprised 58% of the total area of vines and 59% of the total bearing area.

The estimate for total grape production in 2006 was just below the 2005 record at nearly 2.0 million tonnes. The largest producing state, South Australia, recorded an increase in production of 3% to 885,800 tonnes which offset a decrease of 3% in 2005. New South Wales replaced Victoria as the next largest growing state, with a small increase in production to 509,900 tonnes while Victoria's production decreased 10% to 497,200 tonnes.

Red grape production (1.0 million tonnes) was higher than white grape production (954,900 tonnes). Consistent with last year's record outcome, 1.8 million tonnes of grapes were harvested for winemaking. The production of grapes for drying fell by 13% to 117,800 tonnes while the harvest of table and other grapes rose by 12%, to 81,700 tonnes.

South Australia remained the highest red grape-producing state with 54% of total production. South Australia replaced Victoria as the highest producer of white grapes with 34% of total production, followed by Victoria with 31%.

Three varieties of grapes accounted for 55% of all production: shiraz (422,600 tonnes), chardonnay (397,400 tonnes) and cabernet sauvignon (274,400 tonnes).

The principal source of water for irrigating vines in 2006 was surface water from state or private irrigation schemes, with a total of 87,800 hectares of vines irrigated from this source. The principal methods of watering vines in 2006 were by drip or micro spray, with a total of 116,800 hectares of vines irrigated by these methods.

(State data are available on request.)

GRAPES(a), Area of vines at harvest (ha) - Year ended 30 June

Australia

2004
2005
2006

RED GRAPES

Bearing
92 892
92 849
93 967
Not yet bearing: planted or grafted prior to collection year
3 173
2 809
2 744
Not yet bearing: planted or grafted during collection year
2 224
2 375
1 400
Total area of vines
98 290
98 033
98 111

WHITE GRAPES

Bearing
57 669
60 355
64 199
Not yet bearing: planted or grafted prior to collection year
4 627
4 560
4 024
Not yet bearing: planted or grafted during collection year
3 595
3 718
2 457
Total area of vines
65 891
68 632
70 680

TOTAL GRAPES
Bearing
150 561
153 204
158 167
Not yet bearing: planted or grafted prior to collection year
7 800
7 369
6 768
Not yet bearing: planted or grafted during collection year
5 819
6 093
3 856
Total area of vines
164 181
166 665
168 791

(a) Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

GRAPES(a), Production (fresh weight) (t) - Year ended 30 June

Australia

2004
2005
2006

RED GRAPES

Winemaking
1 063 075
1 009 983
980 209
Drying
8 643
10 487
10 447
Table and other
25 076
26 428
35 645
Total production
1 096 794
1 046 897
1 026 301
Yield (t/ha)(b)
11.8
11.3
10.9

WHITE GRAPES

Winemaking
753 482
808 443
801 460
Drying
120 845
124 926
107 372
Table and other
43 844
46 234
46 065
Total production
918 171
979 603
954 896
Yield (t/ha)(b)
15.9
16.2
14.9

TOTAL GRAPES
Winemaking
1 816 556
1 818 426
1 781 668
Drying
129 489
135 412
117 819
Table and other
68 920
72 662
81 710
Total production
2 014 965
2 026 500
1 981 198
Yield (t/ha)(b)
13.4
13.2
12.5

(a) Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.
(b) Yield represents the quantity of grapes produced per hectare of bearing vines.

GRAPES(a), Australia, Production by selected variety (t) - Year ended 30 June 2006

SELECTED RED GRAPES

Shiraz
422 567
Cabernet Sauvignon
274 370
Merlot
123 085
Pinot Noir
33 933
Ruby Cabernet
26 382

SELECTED WHITE GRAPES

Chardonnay
397 441
Sultana
124 011
Semillon
96 934
Colombard
74 827
Muscat Gordo Blanco
54 425

(a) Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals. Note that more detailed varietal information will be available in Australian Wine and Grape Industry (cat. no. 1329.0) due for release in January 2007.

GRAPEVINES WATERED IN SEASON 2006, Australia(a) (ha)

SOURCE OF WATER

Surface water from state/private irrigation schemes
87 761
Other surface water
29 820
Underground water supply
32 587
Town or country reticulated water supply
4 493
Recycled water
3 278
Other
Not reported
219
10 991

WATERING METHOD

Drip or micro spray
116 822
Furrow or flood
12 017
Spray
25 928
Other
Not reported
138
10 361

(a) Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.