Brian Croser, veteran winemaker and co-founder of the Petaluma label, believes that demand for premium wines is outstripping supply, and Australian winemakers are well positioned to take advantage of this.
Croser, addressing an event for Tapanappa (his latest project), said that the US wasn’t producing enough high-grade wines, and Australia could meet this demand.
"They [The US] have been importing a lot of bulk wine out of Spain and Australia to make up the volumes, and the sources are drying up," Croser told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“We are now at the beginning of a serious global undersupply.
“Europe in general will have a very very small vintage this year, they already know that, America had two short vintages for the last two [years] … all of the signs are towards to increased price because global demand is increasing especially in the US.”
Croser also demanded that the federal government leave the industry alone, and said it does not need a carbon tax imposed on it.
Lion Nathan acquired Petaluma – which Croser established with his wife Ann in 1976 – in 2001. Croser has been recognised for his achievements in the world of wine with accolades including an Order of Australia and a Man of The Year award from Decanter magazine in 2004.