2023 Tasmanian Vintage
When the going gets tough, this tough little island makes #awesomewine!
Tasmania's wine producers rose to the (many) challenges across the 2023 season to harvest modest volumes of excellent quality.
No two seasons are the same in Tasmania's cool and varying climate, and this sentiment rang especially true for the 2023 harvest, with challenges being plentiful and varied across the island.
Wine Tasmania CEO Sheralee Davies noted that the challenging season resulted in low yields in many parts of the island.
"The overall 2023 vintage production is very similar to 2022, with many wine growing areas experiencing significantly lower yields. The decrease in yields has been partially offset by newer vineyards starting to come into production, with the island's total vineyard area continuing to expand."
“Due to the vigilance and tireless management of our producers, quality of the wine grapes harvested this year is reported to be excellent. With volumes down and increasing global demand, this means Tassie wine lovers may need to get in early to secure wine from their favourite vineyards.”
This season’s challenges came primarily from wet, cool growing conditions, causing delays to the ripening of wine grapes across much of the island. However, conditions differed dramatically from the North-West to the South and the wine growing areas in between. Tasmania’s wine grape growers are well-versed in adjusting to unexpected weather events that may come their way.
In 2023, Tasmania collectively harvested 12,390 tonnes of wine grapes, anticipated to produce 895,000 cases (dozens) of wine. The season also delivered another record for the value of Tasmanian wine grapes, up to $3,377/tonne compared with the national average of $642/tonne.
The numbers:
- 895,000 cases (dozen) of Tasmanian wine produced in 2023 +1%
- $3,377/tonne average value of Tasmanian wine grapes +4%
- 38% of all Tasmanian wine in 2023 = sparkling wine +1 (from 37% in 2022)
- 0.9% of Australia's total wine grape production, but 4.0% of total value
- Based on wine grapes harvested nationally, Tasmania is 15th by volume but 10th by value
Throughout the season, just under half of Tasmania's vineyard area was managed under Tasmania’s VinØ (vin zero) program, a best practice viticulture and winemaking framework led by Wine Tasmania. Further details at www.winetasmania.com.au/vinzero-looking-after-the-land.
Image credit: Domaine A, Jesse Hunniford