The annual winegrape crush in the Alpine Valleys was substantially up in volume and value this vintage, compared to last year, according to the National Vintage Report 2025 released by Wine Australia last week.
The report shows Alpine Valleys’ total winegrape crush was 2713 tonnes with a value of $3.489 million, which was significantly higher than the 2024 crush of 1913 tonnes valued at $2.497 million.
White variety grapes were again the majority of the crush, with 1827 tonnes and a value of $2.116m while red varieties totalled 839 tonnes with a value of $1.374m.
Prosecco was again the dominant variety representing over 32 per cent of the crush, with 884 tonnes valued at $865,503.
However, the value of the second largest variety of pinot noir - with its 560 tonnes (20.64% of crush) - had the highest value of $982,495.
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Other main grape varieties in this year’s crush were: pinot gris/grigio (328 tonnes, $417,025); chardonnay (285 tonnes, $426,191); sauvingon blanc (280 tonnes, $227,272); merlot (106 tonnes, $71,447); shiraz (30 tonnes, $74,823); sangiovese (30 tonnes, $45,519); and tempranillo (24 tonnes, $59,778).
Winery grown fruit crushed by the grower for their own winemaking was well up on last year, totalling 171 tonnes compared to 77 tonnes in 2024.
But it was still only a smidgeon over six per cent of the total 2025 crush, with 93.7 per cent being purchased fruit - up on 96 per cent in the 2024 crush.
The average value per tonne was $1258, which was down on the 2024 average of $1300 a tonne.
Red varieties had the highest average value per tonne of $1692 ($1719 in 2024), with white varieties at $1258 per tonne ($1134 in 2024).
Alpine Valleys Vignerons president Stef Antonello said 2025’s increased volume and value reflected, in part, the excellent season with a quality harvest of plentiful fruit, as well as more plantings throughout the valleys.
“Fruit quality was exceptional, with the warm summer having very few really hot days which saw us have a very early season,” he said.
“A lot of major wine companies throughout Australia are purchasing winegrapes from the Alpine Valleys to make their sparking wines...this is what most of the pinot noir and prosecco grapes are used for.
“While global world trends show a downturn in wine, locally as grape suppliers we’re still seeing very strong demand for our fruit, due to its quality and the professionalism of growers.”
Mr Antonello said Vinarchy - established in 2025 following the merger of Accolade Wines and Pernod Ricard Winemakers to be one of the world’s largest wine companies - is among those buying fruit for its winery brands, such as Croser’s non-vintage sparkling wines.
“We remain in a very good position for fruit production with the varieties grown still in strong demand,” he said.
“We have also seen increased plantings,” he noted, with his own vineyard having gone from 60 acres to 80 acres this harvest, with 70 per cent being sparkling fruit of chardonnay, pinot noir and prosecco grapes.
Mr Antonello said while the Alpine Valleys was producing the goods for major players in the Australian wine industry, there was enormous potential to grow local wine tourism in the Alpine Shire, and they were working with Alpine Shire Council on rebranding the region to maximise opportunities for the 10 or so existing cellar doors in the shire, to increase visitation.
“Our viticulture industry is worth tens of millions of dollars in the Alpine Shire, and if you value add to it you can put an extra zero on the end of that,” he said.
The Alpine Valleys’ share of the 2025 Australian national winegrape crush of an estimated 1.57 million tonnes is 0.2 per cent.
This year is 11 per cent up on the 2024 crush, but still 140,000 tonnes below the Australian 10-year average of 1.71 million tonnes.
The year-on-year increase in the crush was driven by red varieties, which were up by 20 per cent, while the crush of white varieties was two per cent higher than in 2024.
Wine Australia market insights manager Peter Bailey said the smaller crush, relative to the long-term average, is likely to have been a result of both seasonal and strategic factors, with a decline in demand for wine globally driving adjustment in the Australian wine sector, but he noted the mix of red versus white was problematic.
“The 2025 crush equates to around 1.1 billion litres of wine, which is in line with current sales of Australian wine on domestic and export markets,” he said.
“The significant increase in red varieties this year could exacerbate the challenges facing the sector in terms of excess stocks of red wine and might further reduce demand for these varieties next vintage.”
