News

The Wine Australia Board today thanked the General Manager of Marketing Stuart Barclay for his instrumental role in leading Wine Australia’s global marketing strategy over the past seven years.

Australian wine direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales in 2020–21 are reported to have grown by 17 per cent in value and 14 per cent in volume, compared with the previous financial year, outperforming other sales channels according to Wine Australia’s Wine Direct-to-Consumer Survey Report 2021 released today.

An Agriculture Victoria research project studying phylloxera has revealed new ways to improve detection and management of the destructive grapevine pest. Over the past three years, a $1.5 million project co-funded with Wine Australia has delivered a new portable technology for rapid identification of phylloxera in the field, new knowledge in assisting screening of rootstock resistance, and new disinfestation practices to help prevent the pest from spreading.

Australian wine exports during 2020–21 declined by 10 per cent in value to $2.56 billion, compared with the previous financial year, while export volume declined by 5 per cent in volume to 695 million litres (77 million 9-litre case equivalents), according to Wine Australia’s latest Export Report released today.

The Australian wine sector has rebounded from two successive small vintages to produce a record crop of 2.03 million tonnes in 2021, after a season characterised by near-perfect growing and ripening conditions across most states and regions, according to the National Vintage Report 2021 released today by Wine Australia.

A summary of the current alcohol statement information for 33 plus countries that Wine Australia publishes Export Market Guides for.

In the 12 months ended September 2020, the value of Australian wine exports increased by 4 per cent to $2.998 billion while volume declined by 0.4 per cent to 771 million litres (85.7 million cases). The average value of exports increased by 4 per cent to $3.89 per litre.

Cabernet Sauvignon is the world’s most planted winegrape variety and it is celebrated around the globe on 3 September with International Cabernet Sauvignon Day. 

There is considerable uncertainty surrounding the extent and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic in health and economic terms. However, there are some clear trends emerging and what is certain is that businesses will need to be agile and responsive to survive and prosper in this environment.

Wine Australia’s Export Report for the year ended June 2020 shows that despite short supply and COVID-19 restrictions, Australian wine exports experienced only a small decrease in value of 1 per cent to $2.84 billion in 2019–20.

July is the month when the export of current vintage Australian wine tends to start in earnest. This week’s Market Bulletin looks at how conditions on the global bulk wine market in mid-2020 compare with last year.