Indicative wine grape prices for 2014 are significantly lower for the three inland wine grape growing regions of Australia than 2013. Growers in Riverland, Sunraysia, and the Riverina will see prices drop as much as 31% for chardonnay, 18% for cabernet sauvignon, 13% for merlot, and 17% for shiraz. The price drop is expected to cut annual revenue for growers in the Riverland region from $112 million in 2013 to $86 million in 2014. Per ton prices have fallen from $339 per tons to $294 per ton – putting prices in line with historic low meaning growers will be operating at a loss. Despite the strengthening of the Australian dollar, growers have been told that the economic improvements have not filtered down to the wine industry.
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