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Industry Overview

The quality of Queensland wines is now recognised as among the best in Australia. Overseas exports are increasing, particularly to international markets seeking premium quality boutique wines.

The Queensland wine industry has grown significantly over the years to cover approximately 1500 hectares. The majority of this growth has occurred during the past 7 years with significant plantings throughout the southeast corner of the State.

An approximate summary of the current plantings of wine grapes in Queensland as of end of 2004:

The Granite Belt - 790 ha
The South Burnett - 420 ha
Darling Downs - around Toowoomba - 120 ha
Inglewood District - 30 ha
North Burnett and Central Queensland - 40 ha
Sunshine Coast and Hinterland - 20 ha
Gold Coast Hinterland, Brisbane, Brisbane Valleys and the Scenic Rim - 50 ha
Somerset Valleys - 20 ha
Western Downs (Maranoa Region) - Roma, St George and Surat - 20 ha
Total = 1,500 hectares

The Queensland wine industry dates back to 1839 when Mr Robert Ramsay Mackenzie planted a small patch of French vines in Ballandean on the Granite Belt. Times have changed and the wine industry of Queensland has grown significantly over the years.

Industry investment in the Queensland wine industry has exceeded $75 million over the past 10 years. A significant number of plantings are still expected to reach full production in the next few years. Current estimates of grape tonnage are as follows:

TONNES	600	1800	2500	3000	3200	3500	5000	6000
YEARS	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006

The demand for Queensland grapes has traditionally been absorbed within the State with the majority of Queensland wines being sold at cellar doors. Export markets and an increase in retail sales has occurred which is timely with the increases in total State production.

2005 Queensland Wine Grape Crush and Price Report

This report contains information from the National Wine Grape Survey compiled by the Department of Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development on behalf of the Queensland Wine Industry Association (QWIA).

The National Wine Grape Survey is coordinated by the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation with funding from the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation.

The report is broken into three sections:
1. Wine Grape Crush (pdf 167kb)
2. Summary Table of Results (pdf 461kb)
3. Future demand per variety (pdf 758kb)

Last updated 24 March 2006.