AN EXPORT delay prompted by France’s windespread pension reform strikes has resulted in Coonawarra wineries waiting up to three weeks for French oak barrels.
The strikes have triggered delays in importation, with shipments from Europe estimated to take 45 days to arrive in Australia instead of the usual 21.
Coonawarra-based wine barrel distributor Tim Bailey said the changes would not directly impact the vintage season, but have resulted in a 15pc increase in freight costs.
Mr Bailey sources the French oak barrels from Dargaud-Jaegle cooperage, located roughly 50km from Lyon in the country’s east.
Oak barrels are used to age red wines to produce smoother, rounder and vanilla flavours.
Mr Bailey said barrel shipments were now required to be shipped through Spain, which was the cause of the significant cost increase.
“It has almost doubled the amount of time it takes us to get wine barrels to Australia because now there are a multitude of drop off and pick up points,” he said.
“The industrial action has added another six to eight weeks onto shipping at the moment.”
Mr Bailey said some shipments have been delayed by five weeks.
“For the Coonawarra region the delays are not so bad because they are mainly for reds and the regions vintage for reds will not start for another couple of weeks,” he said.
“Although it is not having major effects on Coonawarra it has been a somewhat challenging year with the orders.
“It should all go back to normal once picking season begins but if we were to try and get barrels now there would be an
issue.”
Mr Bailey said Coonawarra was lucky to evade any major or long-term effects, claiming other wine regions across Australia were “worse off”.
“In most other parts of the country it would have had an effect,” he said.
“Because our vintage is not due for another couple of weeks, it is not too bad.
“There would be some issues in New South Wales but there is also issues of smoke taint over there as well after all of the fires.”
Mr Bailey hoped France’s industrial action would soon end, warning the continuation could affect upcoming orders.
“If it does not cease before our next order is due, we may need to do some advanced preparations,” he said.
