Good news for drinkers of mid-priced and cheaper wine is that it just has to become cheaper as the 1996 vintage comes onto the market. A massive record crush of 885,000 tonnes – of which 496,000 tonnes were of premium varieties such as chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and riesling – has to put a downward pressure on prices, since there is no existing market for a considerable component of it. The 1995 crush was lower than expected at 635,680 tonnes, while 1994’s was a then-record 753,410 tonnes. With 57% more premium grapes than in 1995, when around 300,000 tonnes were sold in domestic and export markets, the wine industry clearly has to sell like there’s no tomorrow, which will come, of course, with an even higher 1997 vintage. Don’t expect strong existing brands of wine to get cheaper. But take the time to try new brands priced between $8.50 and $10.00 retail, where I expect you will find surprising quality from the 1996 vintage. Despite the crop’s size, there is still a broad shortage of premium Australian red wine thanks to the cool, late conditions experienced by most wine regions. The short supply is exacerbated by the need to keep the faith in overseas markets. The only solution is a top vintage in 1997. Stand-outs to watch for include Hunter reds and semillons, reds and whites from the Pyrenees, central Victoria and Padthaway, McLaren Vale reds, Geelong whites and Lower Great Southern (WA) rieslings.
