The value of Tasmanian winegrapes increased four percent to a record $3,377 per tonne this vintage, compared with the national average of $642 per tonne.
The island harvested 12,390 tonnes of winegrapes, anticipated to produce 895,000 cases of wine – down one percent on last year.
Thirty-eight percent of all Tasmanian wine made in 2023 will be sparkling – down from 37 percent last year.
Wine Tasmania CEO Sheralee Davies says Tasmanian wine producers rose to the many challenges this year to harvest “modest volumes of excellent quality”.
“No two seasons are the same in Tasmania’s cool and varying climate, and this sentiment rang especially true for the 2023 harvest, with challenges being plentiful and varied across the island,” she says.
“The overall 2023 vintage production is very similar to 2022, with many winegrowing areas experiencing significantly lower yields.
“The decrease in yields has been partially offset by newer vineyards starting to come into production, with the island’s total vineyard area continuing to expand.
“Due to the vigilance and tireless management of our producers, the quality of the winegrapes harvested this year is reported to be excellent.
“With volumes down and increasing global demand, this means Tassie wine lovers may need to get in early to secure wine from their favourite vineyards.”
This season’s challenges came primarily from cool and wet growing conditions, causing delays to ripening across much of the island.
“However, conditions differed dramatically from the north west to the south and the winegrowing areas in between,” Sheralee says.
“Tasmania’s grapegrowers are well versed in adjusting to unexpected weather events that may come their way.”
The island represents 0.9 percent of Australia’s total winegrape production, but four percent of total value.
Throughout the season, just under half of Tasmania’s vineyard area was managed under Tasmania’s VinØ (vin zero) program, a best practice viticulture and winemaking framework led by Wine Tasmania.
Access the full 2023 Tasmanian winegrape vintage report here.
Photo: Rebecca Duffy, Holm Oak Vineyards (Adam Gibson and Tourism Tasmania).
Further reading
The Best Wine List In Tasmania
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