Business & Finance

BRL Hardy Sees Record-Breaking 2001 Harvest

June 1st, 2001

Australian winemaker BRL Hardy (ASX:BRL) has continued its strong growth with a record-breaking 2001 vintage crush of 260,000 tonnes, up 18.7% on the company's 2000 total grape harvest.

The record 2001 intake represents a 59% (nearly 100,000 tonnes) increase in the BRL Hardy vintage over the past three years - up from 163,500 tonnes in 1998 to 200,000 in 1999, to 219,000 in 2000 and 260,000 in the latest vintage.

"Today's final harvest of Botrytis Semillon grapes at Padthaway in South Australia signals the completion of crushing of fruit through BRL Hardy's 10 Australian wineries, BRL Hardy's Chief Winemaker, Peter Dawson, said today.

"The 2001 vintage includes our newly commissioned Kamberra winery in the ACT and Houghton's new Nannup winery in Western Australia," he said.

Mr Dawson said the latest growth reflected both the fruitful 2001 season and new plantings that are now in full production.

"In a quality sense, it has been a good solid vintage," he said.

"The record vintage will provide BRL Hardy with the extra stock required to keep up with the exceptional demand that has continued for the company's wines over recent years."

Mr Dawson said the highlights of the 2001 vintage had been some outstanding whites and reds from Western Australia, where the vintage was exceptional, Riesling from the Clare Valley in South Australia, Shiraz from Padthaway and some good Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Adelaide Hills.

Compared with the 2000 vintage, BRL Hardy's varietal intake was up around 20% for whites - notably Chardonnay up 18% - and 30% for reds, very much driven by Cabernet Sauvignon (up 45%), Merlot (up 36%) and Shiraz (up 24%).