AUSTRALIAN GLUT LEAST OF THEIR WORRIES

Despite all the hype and press surrounding the Australian grape glut – which WSD is guilty of as well – at least one beverage research agency claims that excess grapes are the least of Australia’s problems. The UK-based International Wine and Spirit Record said in a recent report that grape shortages will likely be a problem for the Australian wine industry as early as 2010 despite the current surplus.


Because growers are planting lower levels of new vines to make up for the glut, they may not be able to meet demand in the coming years. According to the report, Australia could have close to 10% of the global international trade market by 2010 but may not be able to support it. “At the current level of new plantings, Australia will not be able to sustain that growth and will move into undersupply by 2010, a situation that might bring its own set of challenges in an increasingly competitive market,” the IWSR said.