THE Riverland and Barossa Valley contributed towards South Australia increasing its total wine grape crush during the 2025 vintage, however pricing continues to pose challenges throughout the industry. 

The recent Wine Australia National Vintage Report 2025 showed South Australia accounted for the largest share of the national crush by size, with 747,688 tonnes, or 48 per cent. This was 8 per cent higher than the very low 2024 crush, but still 13 per cent below its 10-year average of 857,640 tonnes.

The Riverland, along with other large inland regions the Riverina (NSW), and Murray Darling – Swan Hill (NSW and Victoria), together accounted for 70 per cent of the national crush, down slightly from their 10-year average – and 2024 share – of 72 per cent. 

The collected crush from these inland regions combined was 1.01 million tonnes, 7 per cent below the 10-year average of 1.09 million tonnes, but around 100,000 tonnes (11 per cent) higher than the previous year’s crush of 909,039 tonnes. 

The overall increase in the crush from the inland regions was driven by substantial increases from Murray Darling – Swan Hill (up 17 per cent) and the Riverina (up 19 per cent), combined with a small increase (3 per cent) in the crush from the Riverland. Despite the increases, all three regions crushed less than they did in 2015. 

After a period of very consistent vintages between 2015 and 2020, each region had an increase of 15 per cent or more in 2021, followed by decreases of 27 to 30 per cent between 2021 and 2024. 

The weighted average value calculated across all purchased grapes was $604 per tonne, down by $10 per tonne, or 1 per cent, compared with 2024. The reduction in the overall average purchase value was the result of a decrease in the average purchase value for both red and white grapes from cool/temperate regions, offsetting increases in the average purchase value for both red and white grapes from warm inland regions. 

These increases were despite substantial increases in tonnes for the warm inland regions – particularly for reds. However, it should be noted the increase in average value can relate to factors such as a change in the varietal mix – such as a higher proportion of more highly priced varieties – yield caps or contract arrangements that predate the current vintage.

Across the warm inland regions, the average value for reds saw a small increase of 1 per cent, to $293 per tonne, which was still 32 per cent below the 10-year average, and 55 per cent below the peak of $659 per tonne, in 2020. 

The average value for white grapes increased by 6 per cent, to $400 per tonne, which was 12 per cent above the 10-year average, and 4 per cent below a peak of $419 per tonne, in 2022. For the fourth year in a row, the average value for inland whites was higher than for reds.

In 2025, it is estimated that winery-grown grapes accounted for 29 per cent of the crush, compared with 32 per cent in 2024, whereas the crush of purchased grapes increased by an estimated 15 per cent. An analysis of the prices paid for purchased grapes enables an estimation to be made of the value of the grapes at a region–variety level, which in turn can be aggregated to a regional or national level. 

Winery-grown grapes are assigned the same value as purchased grapes of the same region–variety combination. Based on this analysis, the total value of the wine grape crush in 2025 is estimated to be $1.13bn. The overall average value across all grapes, winery-grown and purchased, was $722 per tonne, which was 2 per cent higher than the figure in 2024, as a result of the increased share of reds and cool/temperate grapes in the overall mix.

The distribution of prices for warm inland grapes generally showed an upward shift in 2025. For reds, there was an increase in the percentage purchased at between $200 to $300 per tonne – up  from 12 per cent in 2024, to 41 per cent in 2025 – and a corresponding decrease in the percentage purchased at less than $200 per tonne, down from 46 per cent in 2024, to 23 per cent. 

This reversed the result in 2024 for these lowest price brackets and saw them return to the approximate distribution of 2023. However, nearly two-thirds of purchases of inland red grapes (64 per cent) in 2025 were at below $300 per tonne. 

The 2025 Australian wine grape crush at a glance: 

• The 2025 Australian wine grape crush is estimated to be 1.57 million tonnes, 8 per cent below the 10-year average of 1.71 million tonnes, but 11 per cent higher than the 2024 crush of 1.41 million tonnes. 
• The crush of red varieties was 20 per cent larger than in 2024, but still well below its 10-year average, and the third-smallest since 2014. 
• The crush of white varieties was just 2 per cent higher than in 2024, and 8 per cent below its 10-year average. 
• After briefly overtaking reds to hold the majority share of the crush in 2024, whites decreased their share to 47 per cent in 2025 – in line with their 10-year average. Most of the major reds increased their crush in 2025, with cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and pinot noir accounting for most of the increase. Shiraz regained its position as largest variety overall, after briefly losing this position to chardonnay in 2024. 
• Despite a 23 per cent increase year-on-year, the crush of shiraz was 14 per cent below its 10-year average, and 32 per cent smaller than its peak in 2021. 
• The total value of the wine grape crush in 2025 is estimated to be $1.13bn. 
• The overall average value across all grapes was $722 per tonne, which was 2 per cent higher than the figure in 2024, as a result of the increased share of reds and cool/temperate grapes in the overall mix.

The full Wine Australia National Vintage Report 2025 can be read by visiting the website (www.wineaustralia.com/market-insights/national-vintage-report).