Vintage Reports, Years: 1998
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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 Bendigo (Victoria)
Vintage got underway in the Bendigo district at the beginning of March, somewhat earlier than usual. After a dry growing season, similar to 1997, yields were average. Lindsay Ross, president of the Bendigo & District Wine Growers’ Association said weather during vintage was mild and dry, and there was no disease problem. He described the […]
1998 vintage report for Barossa Valley (South Australia)
‘The 1998 vintage in the Barossa should rank alongside 1996 and 1990 as one of the best vintages of the decade,’ according to Geoff Schrapel, chairman of Barossa Winemakers’ Committee. ‘Although yields overall were slightly down, the quality and long term cellaring potential of these wines will be exceptional.’A drier than normal 1997 winter in […]
1998 vintage report for Adelaide Plains (South Australia)
‘A classic and very orderly vintage for the Adelaide Plains,’ summed up Joe Grilli, president of the region’s Winemakers’ Association. ‘The season unfolded very nicely for the warmer regions such as ours and fruit was not caught up in late season rains’. Vintage started on 7 February, about the normal time for the area, and […]
1998 vintage report for Adelaide Hills (South Australia)
Wines from fruit picked before Easter in the Adelaide Hills region are ‘excellent,’ according to Chris Laurie of the region’s Grapegrowers and Winemakers Association. ‘Whites have very good flavour ripeness and reds have high Baume with good varietal definition, colour and structure.’ Chris said of those crops picked towards the end of the vintage, some […]
1998 vintage report for Eden Valley (South Australia)
Along with the Barossa Valley, the Eden Valley experienced a drier than normal winter, but good rains in late spring meant good fruit development over summer. The cooler climate has aided the ripening of white grapes and it is expected that 1998 Eden Valley Riesling will be more elegant and finer in style than the […]
1998 vintage report for Diamond Valley (Victoria)
‘A season to remember,’ said William Christophersen, secretary of the Diamond Valley Viticultural Association. ‘With low tonnages, quality was the highest for some years and the smaller quantity of resultant wines should be at premium level.’ William said that the area suffered frost problems in the spring. Temperatures down to -4 ° after early variety […]
1998 vintage report for Cowra (New South Wales)
Continuous hot and dry weather over the growing season led to an early vintage in the Cowra region, beginning on 2 February. Mark Sims of the Cowra Region Vineyard Association said yields were maintained at an average level, up by 15% on last year when the summer was relatively cool. Weather during vintage was hot […]
1998 vintage report for Coonawarra (South Australia)
Reaction from Coonawarra winemakers to the 1998 vintage range from ‘best of the 1990s’ to ‘the best for 20 years.’ Brendan Provis, president of the Coonawarra Grape Growers Association, said the 1998 reds were excellent in colour and flavour. The quality of whites was also above average, although not as outstanding as for reds. Vintage […]
1998 vintage report for Burnett Valley (Queensland)
Increased plantings in this new region boosted yields by 50% this year, and the region’s Winegrowers Association spokesman Merv O’Reilly describes the vintage as ‘very successful.’ ‘The reds are showing promising quality for young vines, with good colour and flavour,’ he said. ‘Chardonnay has also produced rich varietal characters.’ Vintage began on 20 January and […]
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