Vintage Reports, Years: 1998
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1998 vintage report for Orange (New South Wales)
Peter Hedberg of the Orange Region Vignerons Association reported that mild, dry conditions had produced some exceptional flavour and colour in all red varieties. ‘Cabernet, Shiraz and Merlot were excellent and Pinot Noir also showed great flavour for champagne base.’ Yields increased by 10% mainly due to good January rain. Weather during vintage was dry, […]
1998 vintage report for Murray Darling (NSW/Victoria)
Yields were average in the Murray Darling region but there was an increase in production of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz due to new vineyards coming into production. Grieg Greenwood, CEO of the Murray Valley Winegrape Industry Development Committee, said the quality for reds was the best for many years, with good dark colour and […]
1998 vintage report for Mudgee (New South Wales)
Hot, dry growing conditions at Christmas in combination with flowering resulted in a 10% decrease in yield in the Mudgee region. But the reduced yield increased the fruit quality in general, according to James Manners, assistant winemaker at Montrose. Weather during vintage was fine and warm to hot with the occasional shower in the later […]
1998 vintage report for Mount Benson (South Australia)
All facets of the 1998 vintage in the new region of Mount Benson in the south-east of South Australia ran smoothly and the quality of both red and white wines has been described as ‘exceptional’ by the chairman of the Vignerons Association, Jeffrey Flint. New vineyards coming into maturity and higher yields from mature vines […]
1998 vintage report for Mornington Peninsula (Victoria)
Mornington Peninsula experienced a big increase in yield — between 50 and 100% — of generally very high quality grapes across all white varieties. Ian Macr’ of the region’s Vignerons Association said the increased yield was due to bigger bunches with large berries and many berries per bunch. Weather during vintage was initially mild and […]
1998 vintage report for McLaren Vale (South Australia)
‘1998 is an excellent year for reds — excellent Baume levels and good natural acid have resulted in most red varieties achieving perfect balance,’ said David Dean, general manager of McLaren Vale Winemakers. He said whites ranged from good to excellent. ‘The Semillon was not as good as previous years, but Chardonnay is very good […]
1998 vintage report for Geelong (Victoria)
Excellent weather at flowering and a long summer added up to an ideal vintage for the Geelong region. Yields increased by up to 100% on the previous year (a 50% increase on normal year figures). Vintage was early and started in the middle of March. Paul Chambers, president of the Geelong District Winegrowers Association, said […]
1998 vintage report for Macedon Ranges (Victoria)
The Macedon Ranges region recorded a 50% increase in yield, as a result of good weather during the flowering period and a lack of early frost damage. Spokesperson Keith Brien said the quality of both reds and whites in 1998 was the best in the region since 1988. ‘There was very little poor weather during […]
1998 vintage report for Far South Western Victoria
The 1998 vintage is reported as ‘outstanding’ by Peter Dixon, secretary of the Far South Western Victorian Viticultural Association. He said most growers in the region had increased yields and excellent fruit quality. Yields were up by 30% over last year. The region experienced a long dry summer and autumn,’ Peter said. ‘Good rain was […]
1998 vintage report for Langhorne Creek (South Australia)
Exceptional, rich, full flavoured reds, with great colour and tannin on both Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, were a feature of the Langhorne Creek vintage, according to Greg Follett, secretary of the region’s Winemakers’ Association. ‘There was excellent fruit from both young and older vineyards,’ he said. In the whites, Chardonnay and Verdelho are both showing […]
1998 vintage report for Kyneton-Metcalfe (Victoria)
A 25% increase in yield in the Kyneton area has been attributed to the lack of wind at flowering, combined with a warm, dry summer with very little disease pressure. President of the Kyneton Vignerons Group James Leach said vintage began early in the last week of March and the fine and dry weather continued. […]
1998 vintage report for Clare Valley (South Australia)
Winter brought the driest July in Clare since 1982, with only 32 mm of rain. August and September were an improvement, producing some badly needed run-off and bringing soil moistures and dams back to normal levels. As in other parts of South Australia, October was dry until the very end, when 111 mm fell, taking […]
1998 vintage report for Koppamurra (South Australia)
This year marked the first substantial vintage for the new region of Koppamurra in the south-east of South Australia. James Wark, president of the Grape Growers Association, reports that generally favourable viticultural conditions during the growing season, with no peaks of extreme weather, resulted in crops which were fully ripened with excellent flavour and colour. […]
1998 vintage report for King Valley (Victoria)
A return to more classical North East Victoria summer conditions has resulted in excellent quality fruit, according to Peter Read, president of the King Valley Grapegrowers’ Association. Vintage was early and began in early February for sparkling varieties. Yields were up 20% on 1997. ‘Last year was low,’ said Peter. ‘This year we had good […]
1998 vintage report for Hunter Valley (New South Wales)
Mount Pleasant Estate manager/winemaker Phillip Ryan believes the 1998 vintage in the Hunter Valley will shape into a vintage long remembered for the quality of wines produced. ‘1998 reds are outstanding,’ he said. ‘The warm dry conditions have led to high sugar levels and anthocyanin concentration in the grapes. The wines are deep in colour […]
1998 vintage report for Hastings River (New South Wales)
There were unusually dry harvest conditions and a very smooth vintage in the Hastings River region. Vintage started a little earlier than usual on 22 January with sparkling base. Spokesman for the Hastings River Vignerons, John Cassegrain, reports that yields were about 5% down on last year, mainly because of the necessity to prune vines […]
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