Vintage Reports
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2013 vintage report for Coonawarra (South Australia)
Coonawarra has experienced an excellent vintage which was characterised by a warm, dry summer and then a cool autumn. After a warm and fast flowering period, we saw an even set with high berry numbers per bunch. The excellent set necessitated significant fruit thinning at veraison which was advanced by approximately a week by the […]
2013 vintage report for Clare Valley (South Australia)
As with 2012, vintage in the Clare Valley was very early. The first grapes were harvested in the third week in January in the southern end of the valley for sparkling base, and the first table wine grapes (Chardonnay and Semillon) were harvested in the first week of February. The seasonal conditions experienced over the […]
2013 vintage report for Canberra (NSW/ACT)
Allan Pankhurst, president of the Canberra District Wine Industry Association President, says there’s been just the right amount of sun and rain to make this year’s crop a rival to the 2008 crop. Winemakers say well-timed rain and hot weather will result in this years vintage being top class. A good spring, good moisture followed […]
2013 vintage report for Blackwood Valley (Western Australia)
The 2013 harvest for white varieties got off to an early start in the first few weeks of February in the Blackwood Valley, following warm conditions in January. Despite the reasonably quick ripening time, quality in the whites was outstanding, said Kirsten Skraha, president of the Blackwood Valley Wine Industry Association. Unseasonal wet weather during […]
2013 vintage report for Barossa Valley (South Australia)
The 2013 vintage in the Barossa Valley will be remembered as the driest, earliest and quickest vintage in memory. Nigel Blieschke, chair of the Barossa Viticulture Technical Group, Louisa Rose, chief winemaker at Yalumba, and Nicky Robins, viticultural development officer of the Barossa Grape and Wine Association, agreed that the 2012-13 growing season was extremely […]
2013 vintage report for Ballarat (Victoria)
The vintage in Ballarat, a cool climate wine region dominated by Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, started very early in the second week of March. By the second week of April, vintage was complete. Ballarat and District Vignerons Association secretary Paul Lesock said weather conditions were generally favourable throughout the season. There was no real problem […]
2012 vintage report for Yarra Valley (Victoria)
2012 will go down as one of those exceptional vintages where all varieties achieved excellent quality. Pinot Noir is the stand out, with Chardonnay and Shiraz also shining. After some initial trepidation, a long Indian summer resulted in Cabernet also achieving the status of excellent. Harvest started as early as the second week of February […]
2012 vintage report for Wrattonbully (South Australia)
The 2012 vintage will be remembered as one of the regions finest. Fruit quality is exceptional across all varieties, driven somewhat by a below average yield. Budburst was particularly early. Whites look very strong and have good acid retention due to the lack of intense heat late in the ripening period, but arguably the standout […]
2012 vintage report for Upper Goulburn (Victoria)
2012 was generally reported as producing excellent quality of fruit flavours, colour and ripeness, across all varieties, although there was some experience with botrytis affecting the size of the Riesling harvest. High rainfall occurred through the vintage and early disease pressure in late Spring/Summer resulted in some fruit losses but generally the crops were average […]
2012 vintage report for Tumbarumba (New South Wales)
2012 brought mixed emotions. Some growers suffered one of their worst seasons after three major hail events and untimely November rain, while others were thrilled with the quality of their fruit which also excited winemakers purchasing it. Whites were the standout, with Chardonnay showing complex flavours and both Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc also impressive. […]
2012 vintage report for Tasmania
Tasmania Growers in Tasmania are reporting good flavours and lower than average yields for the 2012 vintage, with prices about the same as last year. The Tasmanian winegrape vintage kicked off in late February and was still under way in early April. Frogmore Creek senior winemaker Alain Rousseau estimated yields were down 30% on last […]
2012 vintage report for Swan Valley (Western Australia)
Swan Valley growers were touting a quality vintage, thanks to a return to normal weather, after two consecutive hot and dry seasons the years prior. Swan Valley and Regional Winemakers Association president Julie Church said it had been a cracker year. This year, we received excellent spring rains and generally mild summer temperatures. As a […]
2012 vintage report for Swan Hill (Victoria)
Murray Valley Winegrowers estimates a vintage intake of 320-340,000 tonnes for Murray Darling and Swan Hill. Despite a condensed vintage that started up to three weeks earlier than average, winemakers are lauding the quality of grapes and wines as probably the best in 20 years with reports of outstanding quality Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet […]
2012 vintage report for Swan District (Western Australia)
A welcome return to more normal weather patterns; excellent spring rain and mild summer temperatures produced one of the earliest and best WA wine vintages in years. Outstanding white fruit with fresh aromas and vitality were harvested, along with deeply flavoured reds. Source: Winemakers Federation of Australia, Regional Reports, July 2012
2012 vintage report for Strathbogie Ranges (Victoria)
Harvest was somewhat earlier due to reduced crop loads, smaller berries and open bunch. Disease pressure was reduced on prior vintage; small loads and everyone had learnt from last year and was ready to pounce. Whites ticked along at par, Shiraz performed well with our vigilance, but the star is the regions truly varietal Cabernet; […]
2012 vintage report for Southern Flinders (South Australia)
Harvest was up to two weeks earlier than average, with yields down by 30-50% in some areas due to small bunch sizes and small berries with lower extraction. However, colour extraction was excellent and flavours were great. Fruit was flavour ripe at lower Baume than usual, so should produce excellent flavours with lower alcohol. Source: […]
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