Beringer Blass Wine Estates (BBWE), a global leader in premium wine and a major division of Foster's Group Limited (Foster's) today announced the results of its 2004 Australian and New Zealand grape harvest intakes, including grapes the company grows, purchased grapes and purchased wine.
The 2004 intake of 106,572 tonnes is 8% higher than the 2003 intake of 98,320 tonnes and equates to approximately 8.5 million 9 litre cases of wine.
The red varieties totalled 63,447 tonnes and the white varieties totalled 43,124 tonnes.
The intake is in line with forecast requirements for BBWE's domestic and export wine programs, with the Asia Pacific supply planning team actively managing this years intake to ensure a balanced supply and demand situation for the Australian wine portfolio.
The 2004 intake of 4,669 tonnes is 103% higher than the 2003 intake of 2,300 tonnes and equates to approximately 380,000 9 litre cases of wine.
The red varieties totalled 1,604 tonnes and the white varieties totalled 3,065 tonnes.
The larger intake in 2004 reflects a combination of improved seasonal conditions and the increased fruit available from the Northbank vineyard in Marlborough which was leased in March 2003. The increase is an excellent outcome given the continuing strong growth in demand for BBWE's Matua Valley wines, particularly in export markets such as the United States.
Media
Nicole Devlin
Tel: +613 9633 2261
Mob: 0418 202 375
Investors:
Robert Porter
Tel: +613 9633 2560
Mob: 0407 391 829
