Vine removal - a costly or cost-saving exercise?

摘要

A MASSIVE OVERSUPPLY of fruit in the Australian wine sector is resulting in a mounting number of producers opting to cut their losses and resort to vine removal. The Wine Restructuring Action Agenda (WRAA), launched to confront the reality of grape and wine oversupply, calls for the removal of at least 20 per cent of bearing vines naturally. Forest Hill winemaker Lee Haselgrove is an advocate of progressive vine removal to combat the oversupply crisis. "Many are hoping that weather events will solveour wine glut, which strikes me as extraordinary given we have the capacity to reduce our crops voluntarily and potentially improve grape quality with smart decisions," Haselgrove said.