Vintage Reports, Years: 1996

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1996 vintage report for Margaret River (Western Australia)

Good winter and spring rains provided the basis for crops to recover markedly from 1995 levels, and there was minimal bird damage, leading to yields which were up on the previous year, according to Eddie Price, vice president of the Margaret River Wine Industry Association. Climate during vintage was generally mild, with short bursts of […]

1996 vintage report for Macedon Ranges (Victoria)

Vintage was not expected to start in earnest until May in the Macedon Ranges. President of the Macedon Vignerons’ Association, John Ellis, said it was a matter of ‘What happened to summer?’ Frosts in October affected some vineyards, cold conditions at flowering caused reduced set in some, and it was a high pressure year for […]

1996 vintage report for Langhorne Creek (South Australia)

Greg Follett, secretary of the Langhorne Creek Winemakers’ Association, said there had been an overall increase in yields in his region, with Chardonnay up by 30% and Cabernet and Shiraz yields showing an increase of 10%. However, some growers lost 10-30% of Cabernet Sauvignon yield when they were hit by heat in January. As in […]

1996 vintage report for King Valley (Victoria)

The season was one of the coolest experienced in the King Valley and vintage was about three weeks late. The King Valley Grapegrowers’ Association President, Peter Read, said the region’s yield was up by about 15-20%. There was good fruitset, with berry numbers per bunch up by 20-30%. Rain had affected some fruit where ripening […]

1996 vintage report for Hunter Valley (New South Wales)

The Hunter’s excellent start to the growing season continued through November with 57 mm of rain and the cool, variable weather continued through December. January rain caused some early botrytis. Vintage started on 20 January and Bruce Tyrrell, a member of the Hunter Valley Vineyard Association, said average yields were up 40% on 1995. The […]

1996 vintage report for Granite Belt (Queensland)

President of the Queensland Winemakers’ Association, Ian Davis, said the Granite Belt should show an increase in yield of about 15%. He also expected the quality of both reds and whites to be good. There was a good set; total yields were affected by hail in mid-December and some white yields (Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc) were […]

1996 vintage report for Geelong (Victoria)

Paul Chambers, Secretary of the Geelong District Winegrowers Association, said all the region’s vineyards reported an increase in yield over a normal season of between 25% and 50%.’Vintage 1996 is one of the rare years with excellent quality plus excellent quantity,’ Paul said. Picking in the region began at the normal time for Chardonnay/Pinot Noir […]

1996 vintage report for Diamond Valley (Victoria)

Winery owner Norma Neil said the Diamond Valley region had produced good quality grapes with full bunches. No diseases and no frost and an average 20 °C during vintage had contributed to a good average yield, similar to 1995.

1996 vintage report for Cowra (New South Wales)

Cowra Region Vineyard Association President, Greg Johnston, said yields in his region were variable, but quality of both reds and white was very good, irrespective of yields. Chardonnay yield was generally low, about 75% of average, due to spring frosts. Verdelho was down about 20%, but Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon yields were up slightly. Greg […]

1996 vintage report for Coonawarra (South Australia)

As harvesting at Coonawarra drew to a close, the region’s winemakers were confident of an excellent vintage. Unlike other parts of southern Australia, Coonawarra escaped the heavy rains during its vintage and experienced classic autumn weather of still, sunny days to ripen the fruit. President of the Coonawarra Vignerons Association, Jim Brand, expects wines from […]

1996 vintage report for Clare Valley (South Australia)

Andrew Tolley, chairman of the Clare Valley Winemakers’ Association, is very happy about his region’s 1996 vintage. ‘This has been one of those exceptional vintages,’ he said. ‘Some wineries report an increase of up to 50% on last year, and generally yields are up at least 20% .’ Andrew compares the current vintage with that […]

1996 vintage report for Bendigo (Victoria)

The Bendigo district was only halfway through vintage when the Winegrowers’ Association Secretary, Peter Cumming, made his report. It did appear that yields would be up, however, and Peter says that quality in both reds and whites is ‘looking very good.’ The climate during vintage ranged from cool and sunny to cold, wet and windy, […]

1996 vintage report for Barossa Valley (South Australia)

‘An exceptional vintage in both quantity and quality, with yields up on average by 15%,’ is how Grant Burge, Chairman of the Barossa Winemakers’ Association, described vintage 1996 in the Barossa. ‘Vines are quite hardy and have come back from a drought extremely well. The rainfall in 1995/96 has been average but the vines have […]

1996 vintage report for Eden Valley (South Australia)

Speaking on behalf of the Eden Valley Winegrowers Association, Paul Bolden, winemaker at Hill-Smith Estate, assesses the Eden Valley vintage as average in terms of yield. Good set followed the winter rains and full dams meant there was plenty of water available for supplementary irrigation. The season was slightly warmer than average, and dry until […]

1996 vintage report for Ballarat (Victoria)

When the Journal went to press, the vintage in the Ballarat district was only just beginning. Secretary of the Ballarat and District Vignerons’ Association, Paul Lesock, said the yield appeared to be consistent with previous seasons. The climate during vintage was colder than usual and wetter during flowering. Powdery mildew was more prevalent this year […]

1996 vintage report for Upper Hunter Valley (New South Wales)

Upper Hunter region yields were up 50% on 1995 because of favourable conditions early in the season and a cool summer. Andrew Cruickshank, secretary of the Upper Hunter Winemakers’ Association, said 1996 will be a significant year for whites, which should show good varietal character. Good colour and flavour due to cool ripening conditions should […]

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