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2000 vintage report for Canberra (NSW/ACT)

Yields were about 25% above average in the Canberra district this year. John Kirk of the Canberra District Vignerons’ Association said this was probably a rebound from the very low yields of last season, when yields were greatly reduced by a severe frost in October 1998. Vintage started at the end of March, which is normal for the region. John said that wet weather early in the summer was associated with an increased incidence of powdery mildew. Showery weather during vintage gave rise to a small amount of botrytis infection. After a worryingly cool early season, a hot February and warm March brought the grapes back on track so that normal ripeness was achieved. ‘It was a good average year for quality in reds, with satisfactory sugar levels, such as 13.0-13.5 ° Be in the Cabernet group and 12.5-13.0 ° Be in Shiraz,’ John said. ‘The quality in whites was good but the unexpectedly high yields pulled the sugar levels down slightly. Typical Baume levels were 11.5-12.0 ° for Riesling, Semillon and Viognier and 12.0-12.5 ° for Sauvignon Blanc.’ He said the region had been spared the heavy rain that fell in some other districts late in the season. ‘Vine growth was good — it was an excellent season for the many newly-established vineyards in this rapidly growing wine region.’ He said some wineries had storage problems arising from the unanticipated increases in yield.