WILLAGRI
With more than 65 wine regions and spread over an area of more than 146000 hectares, viticulture in Australia is a major sector for the country. Australia is among the world’s top 10 producers with a quantity of up to 1.3 billion litres of wine per year. Every year, within its fertile regions, 2 million tons of grapes are harvested, including white grape varieties (48%) and red grape varieties (52%), containing many varieties, for example Shiraz (40%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%), Merlot (10%), or other varieties (35%).
However, the sector is seriously threatened by the recent climate changes that are raging in the territory: droughts, heat waves, forest fires, degradation of natural environments (example of the Great Barrier Reef), etc. Among the dangers facing Australian vineyards is the lack of access to water, since viticulture in Australia is highly dependent on irrigation. Vine diseases such as mildew seriously affect plantations.
During this year 2024, several solutions have been thought out by the government to improve viticultural practices and make the sector more profitable. Among the solutions put in place in favor of viticulture, Australia has revived relations with China, following the visit of Li Quiang, the Chinese Prime Minister, on June 16. The latter took the opportunity to visit local winegrowers who have suffered from Chinese sanctions imposed in 2021, then lifted in 2022.
Other solutions encourage wine tourism in South Australia, by setting up wine tourism tours, giving tourists the opportunity to explore ancestral estates, while learning about the history of local grape varieties and winemakers. In addition, the country’s best wines are showcased at local events such as the Melbourne International Wine Competition and the Sydney Royal Wine Show.