Data on the economic contributions and characteristics of grapes and wine to rural regions of Australia
Over the two decades each side of the new millennium, the Australian wine industry went through a remarkable period of export-oriented growth. The vineyard area in Australia trebled over the 20 vintages to 2008. Today, nearly two-thirds of Australia's production is exported and production itself increased nearly four-fold. Moreover, the average price of wine exports more than trebled in nominal terms over that period. Meanwhile, domestic consumption of wine has become more focused on
higher-quality offerings. This export-led growth and quality upgrading, assisted by marketing efforts of wineries as well as ‘Brand Australia' generic promotion abroad, has added remarkable wealth and vitality to many rural regions of Australia and it has also altered the characteristics of production.