The first vessel of new season Brazilian grapes will hit Europe next week, with the market ready for action.
Good Greek grape has been harder to come by in recent weeks, according to industry sources, and the poorer quality fare has struggled to meet price expectations.
Fruit from both Spanish and Californian sources has suffered with coloration issues. Spain is short of the required colours, while california has overcome early season problems, but at the cost of consistent quality.
Reports from South Africa are suggesting a slightly later arrival for the country's grape, although a predicted decrease in volumes of between 5-10 per cent, depending on sources, is unlikely to affect availability in the UK.
Retail prices for good grape are up around the £1.26 mark at the moment, despite a preference for a 99p price point ceiling. But Greek product is not alone in finding that a drop in quality is being met by lower returns.
"Brazil has high ideas for this season and its fruit is coming into a very welcoming market for good samples," said the source. "It is extremely quiet in the wholesale markets, but the demand is there at retail level for both red and white varieties, seeded and seedless."
Chile's producers are quietly confident of a good crop, but after a disastrous year three seasons ago, when large early volumes were shipped into Europe to compensate for reportedly lower South African availability, there are unlikely to be many takers in Chile for pre-February demand.
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