Several wine countries have the same problem: Grape growers are not paid enough for their grapes. The wine industry in many countries currently has several challenging issues on top of (and related to) reduced wine consumption. The grapes have never cost much in the large, warm Murray-Darling Basin, an area in the Australian interior known for simple, cheap wines. But now things have come to a head, and growers are loudly protesting.
The structure of the wine industry prioritises those who make the wine, they say, and grape growing is no longer profitable for many. (In Australia, it is common that grape growing and wine production is done by different companies.)
Murray-Darling supplies Australia with almost 70% of its grapes. The growers say prices remain at the same level as in the 1970s, even though costs have increased drastically.
Read more: abc
