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Estimates from the Vineyards 2005 collection show that the season 2005 matched last year's record outcomes. Grape growers cultivated 166,700 hectares of vines, a slight increase from the 2004 season. The total bearing area for grapes rose slightly to 153,200 hectares, while the area not yet bearing fell marginally to 13,500 hectares. Red grape varieties comprised 59% of the total area of vines and 61% of the total bearing area.

Estimates for total grape production in 2005 remained the same as the 2004 record at 2.0 million tonnes. The largest producing state, South Australia, recorded a decrease in production of 3% to 861,500 tonnes. Victoria and New South Wales, the next largest growing states, showed increases in production of 4% to 551,200 tonnes and 5% to 508,300 tonnes respectively.

Red grape production (1.0 million tonnes) was slightly higher than white grape production (979,600 tonnes). Consistent with last year's record outcome, 1.8 million tonnes of grapes were harvested for winemaking. The production of grapes for drying rose by 5% to 135,400 tonnes while the harvest of table and other grapes also rose by 5%, to 72,700 tonnes.

South Australia continues to be the highest red grape-producing state with 52% of total production. Victoria was the highest producer of white grapes with 35% of total production, followed by South Australia with 32%.

Four varieties of grapes accounted for 62% of all production: shiraz (415,400 tonnes), chardonnay (378,300 tonnes), cabernet sauvignon (284,100 tonnes) and sultana (169,000 tonnes).

The principal source of water for irrigating vines in 2005 was surface water from state or private irrigation schemes, with a total of 83,800 hectares of vines irrigated from this source. The principal methods of watering vines in 2005 were by drip or micro spray, with a total of 113,900 hectares of vines irrigated by these methods.

(State data are available on request.)

	Australia
	2003	2004	2005
RED GRAPES
Bearing	88 645	92 892	92 849
Not yet bearing: planted or grafted prior to collection year	4 425	3 173	2 809
Not yet bearing: planted or grafted during collection year	2 422	2 224	2 375
Total area of vines	95 491	98 290	98 033
WHITE GRAPES
Bearing	54 148	57 669	60 355
Not yet bearing: planted or grafted prior to collection year	3 987	4 627	4 560
Not yet bearing: planted or grafted during collection year	3 866	3 595	3 718
Total area of vines	62 001	65 891	68 632
TOTAL GRAPES
Bearing	142 793	150 561	153 204
Not yet bearing: planted or grafted prior to collection year	8 412	7 800	7 369
Not yet bearing: planted or grafted during collection year	6 288	5 819	6 093
Total area of vines	157 492	164 181	166 665

	Australia
	2003	2004	2005
RED GRAPES
Winemaking	772 522	1 063 075	1 009 983
Drying	8 572	8 643	10 487
Table and other	28 400	25 076	26 428
Total production	809 493	1 096 794	1 046 897
Yield (t/ha)(b)	9.1	11.8	11.3
WHITE GRAPES
Winemaking	557 074	753 482	808 443
Drying	83 692	120 845	124 926
Table and other	46 680	43 844	46 234
Total production	687 446	918 171	979 603
Yield (t/ha)(b)	12.7	15.9	16.2
TOTAL GRAPES
Winemaking	1 329 595	1 816 556	1 818 426
Drying	92 264	129 489	135 412
Table and other	75 080	68 920	72 662
Total production	1 496 939	2 014 965	2 026 500
Yield (t/ha)(b)	10.5	13.4	13.2

SELECTED RED GRAPES
Shiraz			415 421
Cabernet Sauvignon			284 062
Merlot			132 586
Pinot Noir			36 887
Ruby Cabernet			33 587
SELECTED WHITE GRAPES
Chardonnay			378 287
Sultana			168 990
Semillon			96 727
Colombard			77 501
Muscat Gordo Blanco			52 009

SOURCE OF WATER
Surface water from state/private irrigation schemes			83 757
Other surface water			26 945
Underground water supply			31 694
Town or country reticulated water supply			3 637
Recycled water			2 742
Other Not reported			412 773
WATERING METHOD
Drip or micro spray			113 858
Furrow or flood			11 586
Spray			23 674
Other Not reported			267 571