Cleanskin wine production up

The Western Australian Wine Industry Association says a rise in the production of cleanskin wines is a sign wineries are struggling amid a massive oversupply of grapes.

Nielsen research data shows cleanskins account for 4.5 per cent of wine produced in Australia up from 2.5 per cent a year ago.

The WA Wine Industry Association president, John Griffiths, says wineries are simply attempting to clear their stock.

"I think it's more a case of they either sell them as cleanskins and get a little bit for them versus not selling them at all," he said.

"So I think the wineries elect to quit the stock and get a bit of cashflow. It's not necessarily what they want to do but it's probably a good, sound business decision at the time," he said.

The owner of wine producer and retailer Wine Shack, Mike Calneggia, says he does not expect the surge in cleanskin sales to last.

"I think next year for the 2011 vintage there's a lot of growers out there saying, 'If I'm going to lose money growing grapes I just won't grow them'," he said.

"So we'll see over the next few years probably a more balanced supply. I don't think cleanskins will disappear at all, I think they'll be there forever but whether they're of the same quality or whether they're the same availability and range going forward time will tell."