Chinese demand subdued: Australian winemakers might have to wait until 2015 to see new growth in China after Pernod Ricard, the world's second-biggest drinks company, warned sales hadn't risen since the Lunar New Year.
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An austerity drive and crackdown on luxury gift-giving has kept glasses empty.
The dour forecast from Pernod Ricard, whose Jacob's Creek label is China's second-most imported wine, will likely send shockwaves through the local wine industry already suffering from the sting of a strongish Australian dollar and downturns in traditional markets in Europe and North America.
Until 2012 Chinese drinkers had been devouring Australian wine, but Beijing's anti-corruption drive along with a broader austerity program has smashed demand for luxury goods, from wine to Ferraris.
Pernod Ricard's sentiment on sales prospects isshared by many Australian wine companies.
"We think the Chinese market won't improve for the next 12 months,'' said Clare Valley winemaker Mitchell Taylor, at Taylors.
It's still a bit patchy in China. Generally there is still a bit of caution."
Coles' wine price slashed:
In its continuing battle against Woolworths' dominant Dan Murphy's chain Coles is selling cleanskins (the industry term for unlabelled wines) for just $3.04 a bottle, after slashing prices 20 per cent in a discounting spree.
The generic label varieties of both red and white wines merely says they are from south-eastern Australia.
It's the modern-day version of "Two Buck Chuck'', the industry scourge that first started overseas more than a decade ago, spreading to Australia in the mid-2000s, where bottled wine was selling for just $2/bottle amid a sea of grape oversupply.
The nickname of "Two Buck Chuck" first emerged in 2003 in the US.
Rice payments:
Chairman Gerry Lawson said the rates reflected a positive market outlook for the year ahead and the food company's focus on innovation.
They include $276 a tonne for SunRice's premium Sushi variety Koshihikari and $200/t for the medium grain variety Reiziq.
"We are experiencing increased demand for our Sushi varieties, Koshihikari and Opus as well as for our Jasmine fragrant varieties, Kyeema and YRF209," Mr Lawson said.
"We will no doubt be calling on our growers to increase production of these varieties later this year."
SunRice schedules six payments over the course of the marketing year.
