Data supplied by Vinehealth Australia for the 2024 South Australian Wine Grape Crush Survey reveals that large vineyards of 100 hectares or more make up most of the planted area (43%) in South Australia.
Vineyards of 100 hectares or more are held by 133 vineyard owners representing 4% of the number of vineyard owners in South Australia.
Conversely, vineyards that are smaller than 10 hectares account for 8,187 hectares or 11% of the total planted area in South Australia. This is made up of 1,908 vineyard owners (58% of vineyard owners).
Comparing the prior year (2022/23) with the current year (2023/24);
- All vineyard area categories have seen a decline in the planted area except the 25 to <50 hectares which has seen an increase of 416 hectares. The largest decline was the 10 to <25 hectare category which has seen a decrease of 564 hectares. This now results in the 25 to <50 hectare category being the second largest category behind the 100 hectares or more, a change from the 2022/23 reporting period.
- The largest decreases have been in the Limestone Coast zone – other (251 hectares), Clare Valley (191 hectares), Wrattonbully (151 hectares) and the Riverland (120 hectares).
- The largest increase in area has been Currency Creek, not from new plantings, but from discovering existing plantings that were not in Vinehealth Australia’s Vineyard Register. This has resulted in a net increase of 122 hectares from 2022/23 to 2023/24. These vineyards have now been added to the Register.
- Two categories have seen an increase in number of registered owners in the category with the 25 to <50 hectare increasing by 10 registered owners, and the 100 hectare or more category increasing by 4 registered owners. The largest decline has been in the 10 to <25 hectares with 34 registered owners and closely followed by the <10 hectare category with 29 registered owners.
- The regions with the largest decreases in registered owners have been in the Riverland with 19 fewer registered owners, Barossa Valley with 10 fewer registered owners and Limestone Coast zone – other, with six fewer registered owners. Three regions reported small increases in registered owners.
It should be noted the sale of vineyards, splitting and amalgamation of vineyards, and buying of vineyards by existing owners will change the number of registered owners. The industry should be aware of changes to registered owners but not alarmed by the changes. The changes are relatively small by comparison.
All data has been sourced from Vinehealth Australia’s Vineyard Register, collected via the Phylloxera and Grape Industry Act 1995 under which Vinehealth Australia derives its functions and activities. The Register contains planting details of each vineyard of 0.5 hectares or greater in South Australia.