MORE than 500 hectares of wine grapes were removed in the Murray Valley last year.

A Murray Valley Winegrowers survey of growers showed a further purge in hectares of wine grapes in 2019 with 557 hectares removed, offset by 171 hectares of new plantings.

The removals include those growers that have tangibly removed their vines and also growers that have exited the industry and the vineyard is no...