Smallest vintage in more than 25 years reflects market pressures and seasonal conditions

Australia’s 2026 winegrape crush fell to 1.27 million tonnes – its smallest since 2000 – but the reduced national crop did not result in stronger grape prices according to Wine Australia’s National Vintage Report 2026 released today.

The national crush is estimated to be 1.27 million tonnes, down 300,000 tonnes (19 per cent) from the 2025 crush and 25 per cent below its 10-year average of 1.69 million tonnes. This equates to around 33 million fewer 9-litre cases of wine. Wine Australia Manager, Market Insights Peter Bailey said that this year’s crush reflected both seasonal pressures and a broader response to changed consumer demand. “A number of significant seasonal challenges, including flooding in the inland regions, had an impact on production, but the main driver of this lower crush is a deliberate adjustment in response to changing market conditions,” Mr Bailey said. “There have now been four vintages in a row below the long-term average, suggesting an underlying reset in the tonnage of grapes required by winemakers to meet changing global demand.” Chart 1 Australian winegrape crush 2016–2026 White grapes’ share of crush increases Overall, the 2026 crush was 306,334 tonnes smaller than 2025, with red ...