12/02/2007

Wine drinkers have been warned to expect a significant hike in prices for Australian wines after crop failures.

One of Australia’s biggest suppliers, Jacob’s Creek, has said that drought, bush fires and locusts swarms during the 2006/7 growing season had caused severe shortages of popular grape varieties.

Suppliers predict a 30 per cent drop in this year's crop, with varieties such as pinot noir and sauvignon blanc being badly hit.