EXPLANATORY NOTES
INTRODUCTION
1 This publication presents final estimates from the ABS collections: Inventories of Australian Wine and Brandy, 2008-09, Wine and Spirit Production, 2008-09 (Annual Wine Survey), Sales of Australian Wine by Winemakers, 2008-09 and Vineyards, 2009. Not all data from these collections are published here. Some further data are available for a charge, on application to the ABS.
2 This publication is a summary of statistics on grape and wine production and related activities collected by the ABS and from other sources. Some of the data used in this publication were obtained from various ABS collections for which publications with appropriate Explanatory Notes are already available. The bibliography contains a list of these publications.
3 The Viticulture tables replace the previous publication Viticulture, Australia (cat. no. 7310.0) and contain information on area of vines and production of red and white grapes for the 2009 season. The continuing collection of varietal data is supported by Australia's grape-growers and winemakers and the Australian government through the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation.
4 Differences exist between the grape production intended for winemaking reported by grape growers in the viticulture collection and the quantity of fresh grapes crushed by winemakers reported in the Wine and Spirit Production Collection. Differences in the collection methodologies, as outlined below, mean some difference should always be apparent between the series.
SCOPE AND COVERAGE OF VITICULTURE SURVEY
5 Viticultural statistics relate to the year in which the harvest occur.
6 Prior to the 1999 collection, an exercise was undertaken to increase the number of known growers included in the collection. The improved coverage, of over 1,000 growers, means that the data presented for 1999 and later years are not directly comparable with data for previous years.
7 In contrast to previous years, the 2009 Vineyards collection was undertaken using a survey methodology and collected information on the major wine grape varieties only. The scope of 2009 Vineyards Survey was agricultural businesses recorded on the ABS Business Register (ABSBR) above a minimum size cut-off. The ABSBR is based on the Australian Business Register (ABR) which is administered and maintained by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). This business based frame replaces the land based frame previously used for the Vineyards collection. The methodological changes mean that the data presented for 2009 are not directly comparable with previous years.
8 Tasmanian data are collected in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Water. The scope of the collected data is the same as for other states.
9 Viticultural statistics are presented on an Australian Geographical Indications basis in this issue. The Geographical Indications are official descriptions of Australian wine zones, regions and sub-regions which are defined in the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation Act, 1980. The zones and regions listed in the following table were provided to the ABS by the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation. The list includes those regions which had been determined at the time of the Vineyards 2009 Survey.
10 For more detail on Australian Geographical Indications including maps of the zones and regions contact the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation web site <http://www.wineaustralia.com.au>.
AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS |
|
Zone - Region | |
NEW SOUTH WALES |
|
Big Rivers - Murray Darling (NSW), Perricoota, Riverina, Swan Hill (NSW), Other | |
Central Ranges - Cowra, Mudgee, Orange, Other | |
Hunter Valley - Hunter, Other | |
Northern Rivers - Hastings River, Other | |
Northern Slopes - New England | |
South Coast - Shoalhaven Coast, Southern Highlands, Other | |
Southern New South Wales - Canberra District, Gundagai, Hilltops, Tumbarumba, Other | |
Western Plains | |
VICTORIA |
|
Central Victoria - Bendigo, Goulburn Valley, Heathcote, Strathbogie Ranges, Upper Goulburn, Other | |
Gippsland | |
North East Victoria - Alpine Valleys, Beechworth, Glenrowan, Rutherglen, Other | |
North West Victoria - Murray Darling (Vic.), Swan Hill (Vic.), Other | |
Port Phillip - Geelong, Macedon Ranges, Mornington Peninsula, Sunbury, Yarra Valley, Other | |
Western Victoria - Grampians, Henty, Pyrenees, Other | |
QUEENSLAND |
|
Queensland - Granite Belt, South Burnett, Other | |
SOUTH AUSTRALIA |
|
Barossa - Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, Other | |
Far North - Southern Flinders Ranges, Other | |
Fleurieu - Currency Creek, Kangaroo Island, Langhorne Creek, McLaren Vale, Southern Fleurieu, Other | |
Limestone Coast - Coonawarra, Mount Benson, Padthaway, Robe, Wrattonbully, Other | |
Lower Murray - Riverland, Other | |
Mount Lofty Ranges - Adelaide Hills, Adelaide Plains, Clare Valley, Other | |
The Peninsulas | |
WESTERN AUSTRALIA |
|
Central Western Australia | |
Eastern Plains, Inland and North of Western Australia | |
Greater Perth - Peel, Perth Hills, Swan Districts, Other | |
South West Australia - Blackwood Valley, Geographe, Great Southern, Manjimup, Margaret River, Pemberton, Other | |
West Australian South East Coastal | |
TASMANIA |
|
Tasmania | |
NORTHERN TERRITORY |
|
Northern Territory | |
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY |
|
Australian Capital Territory | |
|
SCOPE AND COVERAGE OF WINE SURVEYS
11 Winemakers who crush 50 tonnes or more of grapes are included in the Wine and Spirit Production collection. Wine production data are collected from these winemakers on a winery (location) basis to allow for state and regional data output. The grapes crushed by these wineries includes grapes owned by others and crushed on a commission or contract basis, often for wine producers who do not have their own crushing facilities.
12 Winemakers who crush more than 400 tonnes of grapes are included in the Inventories of Australian Wine and Brandy collection. These details on inventories of Australian beverage wine by wine type are collected at 30 June.
13 All inventories data are collected on an Australia-wide basis only and state figures are therefore not available. Inventories data collected from 1996 include all Australian-produced wines owned by these winemakers and held anywhere in Australia. In years previous to 1996, inventories included only those Australian-produced wines held by winemakers on any of their own premises, regardless of ownership. This change in the measurement of inventories means that data for 1996 and later are not directly comparable with earlier years.
14 It is possible that inventories data may vary slightly each year as new wineries, with either large or small inventories, come into the scope of the collection. In particular, the published (i.e. closing) inventories figures for any one year may not equate with the opening inventories for the following year.
15 Winemakers with sales of 250,000 litres or more in either of the previous two years are included in the Sales of Australian Wine by Winemakers collection. All sales data are collected on an Australia-wide basis only and state figures are therefore not available.
16 The wine content of products consisting of a mixture of wine and fruit juice, commonly known as ‘coolers’, is included in the appropriate wine category of the wine from which it is made, which is generally table wine.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
17 ABS publications draw extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated: without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the
Census and Statistics Act 1905.
ABS PUBLICATIONS
18 Current publications and other products released by the ABS are available from the ABS web site
<http:\\www.abs.gov.au>. The ABS also issues a daily Release Advice on the web site which details products to be released in the week ahead. The ABS may have other relevant data available on request. Inquiries should be made to the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.