A SCALED DOWN AUSSIE HARVEST

It’s been a rough couple of years for the Australian wine industry. Ravaging fires, the terrible economy, a drought . . . the list goes on. Now, the Australian wine industry is heading for one of its smallest (albeit exceptional) harvests in a decade, as drought and poor grape prices make it unviable for many growers to carry on. With the difficult harvest drawing to a close in most districts, forecasts generally suggest a grape harvest of about 1.4 million tons, well down on the normal 1.8 million. Wine Grape Growers’ Australia Executive Director Mark McKenzie predicted the lower harvest would be good for the overall industry. “But the small vintage and low grape prices has made it very difficult for many people in the industry,” he said. Not that long ago Australia was at the top of the wine world. What a difference five years makes.