Vic winemaker announces $128m loss

 Victorian winemaker Australian Vintage says it is looking at more streamlining and cost-cutting after a disappointing half-yearly result.

Australian Vintage operates the Buronga Hill winery at Mourquong, as well as a packaging plant at Merbein.

It announced a loss of $128 million after-tax yesterday, compared to a small profit last year.

The company has reduced its grape intake by a third in three years to an expected 140,000 tonnes for this year's vintage.

But its half-yearly report yesterday confirmed the company would consolidate its packaging operations at Merbein, and further review its operations.