Riverina wine grape growers are hoping for a 'normal' crop after last season saw record lows nationally
After having to fight through frost, hail and storms, this season's wine grape crop looks like it's set to produce an average yield.
But according to Nericon grower Bruno Altin, "average is great".
Last season, bushfires and dry conditions across the country resulted in the lowest national vintage in over a decade.
Over 40,000 tonnes of wine grapes were lost to smoke and fire, and many Riverina growers who couldn't apply water to their crops consistently found themselves struggling.
Mr Altin said after these stresses, it would be good to go back to a normal, unspectacular year.
"The crop looks okay so far," he said. "Early on in the season some people got hit by frost, and some storms over the last few weeks have thrown a bit of hail around the area, but we've also had some good things and the rain has been great."
"It's probably an average year overall."
BACK TO NORMAL: Bruno Altin said an average year is a great year for wine grape growers, who last season produced 20,000 tonnes less than the year before. PHOTO: Monty Jacka
Mr Altin said an average yield, paired with the increased demand for wine which has come out of COVID-19, has painted a good picture for regional growers, despite the situation with China.
Last week, Beijing announced the introduction of significant import taxes on all Australian wine.
The statement sparked widespread concern in Australia for the wine industry, but according to Brian Simpson, Chief Executive Officer of Riverina Winegrape Growers, local growers don't expect to be heavily impacted.
He said a very small amount of fruit from regional areas goes to China, and many growers were actually benefitting from an increase in wine sales.
According to Mr Simpson, the mood among regional growers is "hopeful", with many very happy with their expected yields.
He said he hasn't heard of any massive crops in the region, but for most, a return to normalcy after the mixed bag of last year was just as good.
Growers will now spend the months until harvest looking to the skies, as they pray for no more damaging conditions.
DAMAGED: Brief hailstorms across the region in recent weeks has caused damage to some grapes, but not enough to hamper the season. PHOTO: Supplied
READ MORE
Comments
Discuss "'Average is great': Riverina wine grape growers expecting a return to normalcy this season"
Please note: All comments made or shown here are bound by the Online Discussion Terms & Conditions.