Wine export value falls, as bulk replaces bottles

    The value of Australian wine exports has dropped signficantly.

    The value fell 14 per cent to $2.44 billion in the year to March.

    Volumes are up, though, with a growth in bulk wine exports.

    The Winemakers Federation's Stephen Strachan says this is at the expense of bottled wine.

    "We're not seeing the health in the bottled market that we've seen, but we're also seeing some fairly aggressive practices, particulary in the UK market, by some of the major retailers to also push wine prices down as well," he says.

    "So none of that's good news for the Australian category.

    "As a result of that, instead of good value wine going out in bottles, we are starting to see the bulk wine exports increase."