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Estimates from the Vineyards 2006 collection show that the season 2006 was similar to the previous two seasons. Grape growers cultivated 168,800 hectares of vines, a 1% increase from the 2005 season. The total bearing area for grapes rose to 158,200 hectares, while the area not yet bearing fell again to 10,624 hectares. Red grape varieties comprised 58% of the total area of vines and 59% of the total bearing area.

The estimate for total grape production in 2006 was just below the 2005 record at nearly 2.0 million tonnes. The largest producing state, South Australia, recorded an increase in production of 3% to 885,800 tonnes which offset a decrease of 3% in 2005. New South Wales replaced Victoria as the next largest growing state, with a small increase in production to 509,900 tonnes while Victoria's production decreased 10% to 497,200 tonnes.

Red grape production (1.0 million tonnes) was higher than white grape production (954,900 tonnes). Consistent with last year's record outcome, 1.8 million tonnes of grapes were harvested for winemaking. The production of grapes for drying fell by 13% to 117,800 tonnes while the harvest of table and other grapes rose by 12%, to 81,700 tonnes.

South Australia remained the highest red grape-producing state with 54% of total production. South Australia replaced Victoria as the highest producer of white grapes with 34% of total production, followed by Victoria with 31%.

Three varieties of grapes accounted for 55% of all production: shiraz (422,600 tonnes), chardonnay (397,400 tonnes) and cabernet sauvignon (274,400 tonnes).

The principal source of water for irrigating vines in 2006 was surface water from state or private irrigation schemes, with a total of 87,800 hectares of vines irrigated from this source. The principal methods of watering vines in 2006 were by drip or micro spray, with a total of 116,800 hectares of vines irrigated by these methods.

(State data are available on request.)

	Australia
	2004	2005	2006
RED GRAPES
Bearing	92 892	92 849	93 967
Not yet bearing: planted or grafted prior to collection year	3 173	2 809	2 744
Not yet bearing: planted or grafted during collection year	2 224	2 375	1 400
Total area of vines	98 290	98 033	98 111
WHITE GRAPES
Bearing	57 669	60 355	64 199
Not yet bearing: planted or grafted prior to collection year	4 627	4 560	4 024
Not yet bearing: planted or grafted during collection year	3 595	3 718	2 457
Total area of vines	65 891	68 632	70 680
TOTAL GRAPES
Bearing	150 561	153 204	158 167
Not yet bearing: planted or grafted prior to collection year	7 800	7 369	6 768
Not yet bearing: planted or grafted during collection year	5 819	6 093	3 856
Total area of vines	164 181	166 665	168 791

	Australia
	2004	2005	2006
RED GRAPES
Winemaking	1 063 075	1 009 983	980 209
Drying	8 643	10 487	10 447
Table and other	25 076	26 428	35 645
Total production	1 096 794	1 046 897	1 026 301
Yield (t/ha)(b)	11.8	11.3	10.9
WHITE GRAPES
Winemaking	753 482	808 443	801 460
Drying	120 845	124 926	107 372
Table and other	43 844	46 234	46 065
Total production	918 171	979 603	954 896
Yield (t/ha)(b)	15.9	16.2	14.9
TOTAL GRAPES
Winemaking	1 816 556	1 818 426	1 781 668
Drying	129 489	135 412	117 819
Table and other	68 920	72 662	81 710
Total production	2 014 965	2 026 500	1 981 198
Yield (t/ha)(b)	13.4	13.2	12.5

SELECTED RED GRAPES
Shiraz			422 567
Cabernet Sauvignon			274 370
Merlot			123 085
Pinot Noir			33 933
Ruby Cabernet			26 382
SELECTED WHITE GRAPES
Chardonnay			397 441
Sultana			124 011
Semillon			96 934
Colombard			74 827
Muscat Gordo Blanco			54 425

SOURCE OF WATER
Surface water from state/private irrigation schemes			87 761
Other surface water			29 820
Underground water supply			32 587
Town or country reticulated water supply			4 493
Recycled water			3 278
Other Not reported			219 10 991
WATERING METHOD
Drip or micro spray			116 822
Furrow or flood			12 017
Spray			25 928
Other Not reported			138 10 361