Contributed by Damien Sheehan, president, Grampians Winemakers Inc. Growing season: The growing season was mainly mild and promised much. However, there were three critical times when the conditions werent so mild which had significant impacts on yield. Budburst was early and there were frosts that affected some vineyards in the district. Other than the frosts, […]
Contributed by John Beresford, secretary, Goulburn Valley Wine Association Growing season: Sporadic but timely rain events in the Goulburn Valley late in 2008 ensured soil moisture conditions were adequate throughout flowering resulting in even fruitset across all varieties. Record maximum temperatures up to 46oC in the first week of February combined with furnace-like northerly winds […]
Contributed by Anthony Brain, winemaker, Bellarine Estate, and Paul Champion, Mermerus Vineyard and vice-president, Geelong Wine Association Growing season: Very little rain in winter and spring led to very small canopy growth in the early part of season. The flowering period was cool and windy with Shiraz suffering a very poor fruitset. Take out the […]
Contributed by Barry Morey, president, Beechworth Vignerons Association. Growing season: The growing season started with very low soil moisture. Most growers started with dams well below full capacity. Budburst was even and favourable weather allowed for good fruitset and a potential average to above average vintage. Three frost events occurred in the more susceptible vineyards […]
Contributed by Paul Lesock, secretary, Ballarat and District Vignerons Association. Growing season: Good, even budburst and ideal weather during flowering and fruitset were a feature of this years season. Some vineyards were troubled by late frosts and it was essential to apply the necessary powdery mildew sprays. The region experienced good December rains of 50-60mm […]
Contributed by Tim Smythe, industry development officer, Riverland Wine Industry Development Council Growing season: Season 2008-09 started dry and finished extremely dry in the Riverland. There were some useful rains in early November and mid-December. Temperatures from September through mid-January were perfect for the progress of the vines. Most vines were in good shape leading […]
Contributed by David Sanderson, industry development officer, Wine Industry Tasmania Growing season: Tasmanias 2009 vintage can be summed up as quality, not quantity. The unpredictable weather created some challenges and particular climatic factors limited the yield in all Tasmanian growing regions, but this has aided in producing fruit of exceptional quality and intensity. October was […]
Contributed by Andrew Kosovich Growing season: A very good growing season resulted in a steady ripening period with full flavours achieved. Good rains in September (76mm) and November (58mm) ensured good health for the vines. December was mild with an average maximum temperature of 28°C and 11mm of rainfall. There was no rainfall in January. […]
Contributed by Cathy Gairn, Tumbarumba Vignerons Association Growing season: Rainfall for the season was 906mm with good rains in early February. Budburst took place in mid-September with one major frost event occurring in October affecting some vineyards. An isolated hail event on 18 December also affected two vineyards. The majority of vineyards in Tumbarumba survived […]
Contributed by Philip Martin. Growing season: The 2008-09 season in the Southern Highlands was generally about average. Rainfall returned to long-term average levels, and the early January heatwave was very brief, and came later than southern regions, so did little damage to those who were prepared for it. Frost was not an issue early in […]
Contributed by Michael Gray, Perricoota Grape Growers Association Growing season: The 2009 vintage was difficult in Perricoota due to the heatwave in early February, causing significant crop losses from sunburn on many blocks. Low rainfall meant that disease pressure was low, but also meant more irrigation water was required. Vintage: It was another short one, […]
Contributed by Paul Baguley Growing season: Mudgee had a relative dry winter with good rains from September through to December 2008. This spring rain caused some concerns with regard to downy mildew outbreaks, but overall had a positive effect securing good moisture availability to all varieties and providing a very even budburst with good early […]
Tom Ward, president, Cowra Regional Vineyard Association Growing season: The season started out with rainfall being around about average (two inches per month) until the end of December ’08. There were some problems with downy and powdery mildew. However, these were fairly isolated and dry heat in December and January cleared most of the problems […]
Contributed by Stephen Lowe, project officer, King Valley Vignerons. Growing season: Budburst occurred mid to late September following the third consecutive dry winter where well below average rainfall was recorded throughout the valley. An extremely dry (
Contributed by David Edwards, acting president, Padthaway Grape Growers Association Growing season: The 2008-09 growing season had 25% less rainfall than the long-term average (LTA), with the majority of rain falling in December. Prior to the December rains the actual rainfall was 70% below LTA. Average minimum and maximum temperatures were very close to LTA […]
Contributed by Lian Jaensch, executive officer, Langhorne Creek Wine Industry Council Growing season: The heat in late January/early February caused a brief scare with shades of the 2008 heatwave with some fruit damage and crop loss, however, being earlier in the season was in many ways a blessing compared with the onslaught the previous year. […]