The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia this month announced a 2015 vintage crush of 1.67 million tonne with some modest and patchy strengthening in average winegrape prices and exports.

The 2015 Vintage Report reveals a winegrape crush marginally lower than the seven-year average and slightly down on last year’s 1.70 million tonne estimate and 2013’s high of 1.83 million tonnes.

The red winegrape crush totalled 835,523 tonnes with the white crush marginally lower at 834,041 tonnes. 

Pfeiffer Wines winemaker Chris Pfeiffer said Rutherglen had recorded a “good vintage” this year.

“We saw some terrific colour in the reds and no issue with the sugar because of the heat,” Mr Pfeiffer said.

“The whites looked great as well but what was great for Rutherglen were the fortifieds. We had good sugars in the fortified varieties and good flavours too; it was a very good year for muscat and the best year in five years for muscadelle.”

Mr Pfeiffer said this year’s Rutherglen vintage was one of the earliest on record.

He said they finished picking winegrapes on their two vineyards by Anzac Day, which compared to their latest harvest to date on June 5.

“We had a very early vintage due to the heat and with the frosting from the year before the crop was down,” he said.

“It was a very compressed vintage; it didn’t spread out like other years.” 

Mr Pfeiffer said climate change and more autumn rainfall during the growing season posed new challenges for winegrowers.

“We’ve had more autumn rainfall than ever … now we expect rain events in March and April,” he said.

Mr Pfeiffer said growers were considering different winegrape varieties in view of new weather patterns.

He said the implication of climate change on the wine industry was the 64,000 dollar question.

“In the worst extremities we’d have Rutherglen being the next Griffith in 20 years,” he said.

“It would be considerably warmer with much more irrigated water.”

Winemakers Federation of Australia chief executive officer Paul Evans said there had been a 5 per cent increase in average winegrape prices over the past year, albeit off a low base.

“We must also remember that this is an industry average and many producers in the warm inland regions in particular continue to experience enormous challenges,” Mr Evans said.

“Our analysis shows that 92 per cent of production in warm inland areas is unprofitable.

“The macro-economic climate has shifted in our favour in regards to more favourable exchange rates, the signing of important Free Trade Agreements in the Asian marketplace and improved consumer sentiment in our traditional markets.

“But we must remain pro-active.”