Australian winemakers desperate to secure French oak barrels

The nation’s $45bn wine industry is scrambling to secure French oak barrels out of Europe in time for next year’s vintage, according to The Australian, as big disruptions across the global supply chain caused by COVID-19 play havoc with shipping schedules and the price of barrels skyrocket.

The price of French oak barrels, highly prized by Australian winemakers for adding layers of flavour and complexity to their premium and luxury wines, has risen by more than a third since the pandemic emerged to cost more than $2000 each.

Exacerbating the cost pressures are lengthy delays out of Europe, storms that have destroyed oak trees and a lack of shipping containers that has forced many winemakers from the Barossa to the Hunter to order their French oak barrels more than six months in advance to secure their orders.

 

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