AUS: Grubbing up not the answer, says wine body

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 20 September 2006

Australia's Wine Industry Council has criticised its government's plans to fund the grubbing up of vineyards, according to local reports.

In a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the council was cited saying that government-funded vine pulls were not the answer to solve the country's grape glut.

The council's Di Davidson said it recommends several solutions, but removing vines is only needed in some cases.

"There have been many examples of the wrong variety being planted in the wrong location or in the wrong region," Davidson was quoted as saying in the report yesterday (19 September).

"So, in some situations the best outcome would be to remove a vineyard, not even to replant it but it is very site specific and very situation specific," she said.

The council's recommendations will be made public in the next four to five weeks, the report added.

Sectors: Wine