Wine industry ducks downturn

While interstate growers are struggling with falling grape prices and an oversupply, Tasmania seems to be insulated from the problems.

The Wine Industry Tasmania group is reporting good prices and rising visitor numbers at cellar doors.

It believes its focus on quality explains why the state is surviving the national downturn.

Wine Industry Tasmania's Stuart Nettlefold says local prices are going strong.

For example, the average price for a tonne of Tasmanian pinot noir grapes this year was more than $2800 dollars, almost $900 more than the nearest interstate competitor.

"We're not about quantity, we're all about quality and I think to a point Tasmania has been a little bit immune to that problem on the mainland we're seeing probably the highest price for our grapes here in Tasmania than in any other region around Australia," he said.

Recent research commissioned by Tourism Tasmania shows nearly one in five visitors to the state stops at a winery.

But local growers and makers have been warned they can not afford to be complacent with their marketing, as tourism becomes an increasingly large component of their businesses.