Why have Shiraz sales declined?

[KMP]

Interesting thread over on eBob that has brought up Ric's recent articles, and has a long post from John Gorman of Southern Starz.

I'm not sure I agree with all of John's points. For example, its not at all a simple thing to take the average (less than $10/bottle) consumer to someone looking for regional differences without some serious education. Most of those folks are looking for more education on the simple steps in tasting wine. But I applaud his zeal, then again he does have vested interest.

Mike

[Red Bigot]

Mike, interesting thread, thanks for the link, I don't visit eBob unless prompted by something like this.

I hope the producers in SA are getting the message too, some of the shiraz (some with US back labels) I've tried recently have been pretty much into the blackberry/porty spectrum of over-ripeness, not always with redeeming structure and acid balance. Thankfully there are still plenty of them around that manage to make big balanced wines without going to such extemes.

[seddo]

Very good read - hopefully some of are winemakers & AWBC have read some or all of the thread. With the inroads and markets that the Aussie winefolk have made not only in the States but Europe and Asia it would be a understatement and also stating the obvious how devasting this would be not only to the wine industry but associated industries - packaging, printers(labels), marketing etc and the general workforce that alot of the growers/producers employ in their respective areas if we lose these important markets - something I have witnessed in the smallcrops areas of regional QLD.

regards

[Alex F]

From my perspective not only have shiraz sales declined, but auction prices vs retail prices of shiraz are much lower than their cabernet/pinot counterparts.