My View: Jago's comments should not be seen as unpalatable

I believe our strength in the daily drinking market has been to deliver consistently well-made wines that both look and taste good. The drought conditions and quick harvests of the past five years - and particularly the last two - have made it difficult to produce lower alcohol styles.

But lower alcohol for its own sake can lead to flavourless wines that have simply been picked too early. Such wines lack mouth, feel and weight. Consumers want clean well-

made wines with real flavour and balance; if this can be achieved at moderate alcohols levels then so much the better.

I must applaud Tesco for beginning to make a broader range of Australian styles available. That is where the future of Australia lies.

Bruce Tyrrell is managing director or Tyrrell's Wines.

• Harpers Says...