Beringer Blass Wines Estates (Beringer Blass), a global leader in premium wine and a major division of Foster's Group, today announced the results of its 2002 Australian grape harvest intake, which totalled 80,006 tonnes, including grapes the company grows, purchased grapes and purchased wine.
The 2002 intake, which equates to approximately 6 million 9-litre cases of wine, is 10 per cent lower than the record 2001 intake of 89,153 tonnes. However, it is up 31 per cent on the 2000 intake of 60,930 tonnes.
"The Beringer Blass Wine Estates (Beringer Blass) Australian portfolio is focussed on the high-value premium segment (A$10 and above, and equivalent international retail price points) and with the 2002 intake and prudent inventory management across vintages, we are well placed to meet our growth expectations for the core premium portfolio of brands," said Jamie Odell, Managing Director Trade Asia Pacific for Beringer Blass.
"In addition, we have the flexibility to take advantage of the highly competitive spot market prices expected for some excess varieties, to support our continued growth in the high-volume, lower priced wines (below $A10 price point).
"This is consistent with our stated strategy to self supply premium fruit for our core premium brands, supported by a combination of outsourcing and self supply for the high-volume brands," he said.
According to Chris Hatcher, Chief Winemaker, the overall quality of the Beringer Blass 2002 intake is outstanding, in some cases matching the exceptional colour and intensity of the 1998 vintage.
At 52,114 tonnes, red varieties accounted for approximately 65 per cent of the total 2002 Beringer Blass intake, compared with 73 per cent in 2001 and 65 per cent in 2000.
White varieties totalled 27,892 tonnes in 2002, representing 35 per cent of this year's Beringer Blass's intake.
Beringer Blass's New Zealand operations produced a record vintage result for 2002. At 2,550 tonnes, including fruit from the newly acquired Hawesbridge vineyard, the New Zealand 2002 intake represented an increase of more than 60 per cent on the 2001 intake of 1,570 tonnes, supporting Beringer Blass's global growth drive for Matua Valley wines.
Further information:
Media
Rell Hannah
Tel: +613 8626 3007
Mob: 0419 369 075
Email: Rell Hannah
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Michael Roberts
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Tel: +613 9633 2273
