Tassie bucks the trend, with a wine shortage

Early estimates are predicting Tasmania's wine grape harvest could as little as half that of last season.

The 2008 vintage was a record of more than 9000 tonnes, but just three weeks into this year's harvest, contract wine makers are reporting a substantial drop in grape volumes.

Winemaker Julian Alcorso says unusual weather and water shortages have cut yields at most vineyards.

"I'm cautiously optimistic about the quality, but the quantity is seriously down and that's going to put a lot of pressure on people selling wine because they don't have big stocks," he says.

"So contrary to the Australian dilemma, the Tassie wine's actually in short supply."