AUSSIE OFFICIALS IMPLORE WINERIES TO HIBERNATE VINEYARDS

Prices for wine grapes are expected to hit “rock bottom” next year in Australia, according to the Wine Grape Growers Australia, leading some growers to wonder whether they should bother growing a crop at all this year.

Leaders say that it should be an industry wide effort and not just left to the growers. Wineries could help by buying grapes from growers rather than their own vineyards - which often costs more to produce anyways - and could also reward contracted growers who agreed to significantly reduce their yields.