Contract grape growers feel downturn impact

 The Margaret River Wine Industry Association says contract grape growers are being hit hard by the global economic downturn.

A number of growers in south-west Western Australia have been forced to rip out vines because wineries will not buy their grapes.

The president of the Margaret River Wine Industry Association, Leah Clearwater, says the growers need to look at other options like bulk selling.

She says it is a very challenging time for contract growers.

"They're sort of caught between a rock and a hard place really because there are always the potential that a winery could come out towards the end of the season and pick up some fruit off them," she said.

"So they do need to continually manage their blocks, but in the same instance they can't afford to spend excess money on those blocks, because they're not sure whether they're going to secure a sale from them or not."