Tasmanian 2019 vintage another record year
The Tasmanian 2019 vintage has posted another record year, with over 17,180 tonnes picked, an increase on last year’s record result of 16,2880 tonnes.
“This reflects an unprecedented four consecutive years of strong yields for Tasmania,” said Wine Tasmania’s technical officer, Paul Smart, adding that the island punches well above its weight in terms of the value it brings to the Australian wine sector, producing 1% of the country’s total wine grapes by volume, but over 4% of its value.
Vintage began earlier than usual in February for super premium sparkling wine grapes, with the majority of harvesting complete by late April. It was a warmer than average season, with measured heat for most wine growing areas close to the warmest ever recorded. It was also a generally dry season across the state, reducing disease pressure, with the East Coast experiencing drought conditions.
It was a varied 2018/19 season around the island, demonstrating that no two seasons are the same in the cool climate of Tasmania. Bush fires experienced in the south west directly affected some grape growers in the area, whilst frosts during budburst and rain during flowering also impacted on yields in some parts of the island.
Smart said that Tasmanian grape growers were used to being agile and managing the every-varied seasonal conditions in order to get the best possible quality wine each year.
Tasmania’s global reputation for outstanding wines is reflected in the value of both the grapes (five times the country’s average) and wine (more than double the country’s average). While only 7% of Australia’s wine is sold at over $15 a bottle, all of Tasmania’s wine is sold in that price range, with the average price of an Australian bottle of wine retailing at $8.13 compared to $22.44 for Tasmanian wine.
- 2019 Tasmanian Vintage Snapshot:
- 17,180 tonnes (approximately 1.24M cases of wine
- 38% of the 2019 vintage produced sparkling wine (representing 37% of all Pinot Noir and 71% of all Chardonnay
- The average value of Tasmanian wine grapes in 2019 was $2,827/tonne ($3,133/tonne for table wine grapes and $2,640/tonne for sparkling wine grapes)