Wine Grape production, McLaren Vale Region and South Australia, 2001 – 2006

Producers in McLaren Vale crushed 63,258 tonnes of wine grapes in 2006, which was 1,893 tonnes (3%) less than in 2005. Red varieties were almost 80% of the total crush, compared with 63% for South Australia as a whole. Total 2006 income to McLaren Vale growers was down by 16% on 2005. The total value of grapes to the region continued to decrease, from $98 million in 2004 to $82 million in 2005 and $69 million in 2006. This represents a decrease of 30% in value over three years. The average purchase price for most major varieties fell by $200 per tonne and Chardonnay dropped by more than $300 per tonne.

South Australian wine grape yields in 2006
The total crush for South Australia in 2006 was 904,022 tonnes. There was increased production in the Clare Valley and Langhorne Creek, while McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Coonawarra and the Barossa Valley regions crushed less than in 2005. In the table below, the Riverland accounted for 61% of the crush by volume, with the Barossa Valley next at 10%, followed Langhorne Creek at 9% and McLaren Vale at 8%.

Comparison – McLaren Vale and other SA wine regions 2001 – 2006
Ranked by tonnes produced (b)