Wine-makers brace for 2010's grapes of wrath
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An oversupply of grapes and lower demand is expected to drive prices down. (ABC TV News - file image)
Despite positive results for national wine exports, there are concerns the next vintage is going to be the worst the Australian wine industry has experienced in 100 years.
According to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, winemakers exported nearly 20 per cent more than they did in April.
Total exports were valued at nearly $212 million.
However, it was still down 10 per cent on May's results last year.
And Sam Holmes, from the Barossa Grape and Wine Association, says while the situation might be stable at the moment, the outlook is grim.
He says an oversupply of grapes nationally, as well as lower international demand, will drive prices down further.
"The 2010 vintage is going to be the toughest Australian wine businesses have faced in the last 100 years," he said.
