The continuing
drought in Australia for the second year has resulted
in wine shortages, especially whites, and the country
is being flooded with imported wines with the industry
predicting that the import may constitute a quarter
of wine consumed in Australia within two years.
The increased volume of imports comes
as major cask producers grapple with small vintages
in 2007 and 2008 and the industry begins to face a
wine shortage. Wine prices have started to rise as
some of the state's favourite white wines from the
2007 vintage run out.
Wine retailers claim the popular
whites like Sauvignon Blanc and 2007 Rieslings were
getting depleted fast. Shortage of some favourite
white wines will be expected this Christmas. No shortage
of reds is expected for a couple of years, however.
The increased consumption of imported
wine has seen their value jump by 35.2 per cent to
A$350 million in the year to the end of October. The
Australian Wine Sector Supply and Demand Assessment
expects imports to gallop from 34 mil liters in 2006-07
to 128 mil liters in 2009-10.
At the same time, an Australian Wine
and Brandy Corporation report forecasts consumption
of Australian wine falling from 476 mil liters to
390 mil during this period.
Shaw and Smith co-owner Martin Shaw
said the effect of the drought and frost last year
had quickly turned the wine lake into a puddle.
Dan Murphy's manager Tony Leon said
he had thought it would take five years to end the
wine glut but he could see a shortage of popular brands
and more imports from South America.
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