Vintage Reports, Years: 1998

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1998 vintage report for Yarra Valley (Victoria)

‘Excellent’ whites and ‘very good to exceptional’ reds have emerged from the 1998 vintage in the Yarra Valley, according to Chris Keyes from the Yarra Valley Wine Growers Association. He said some winemakers are claiming this is the vintage of the decade so far. ‘It was a very good ripening season – Chardonnay and Pinot […]

1998 vintage report for Warren Valley (Western Australia)

Vintage commenced in mid-February, about a week early, in the Warren Valley region. Most varieties showed promise until about mid-March when a lot of early rainfall damaged many of the later varieties. Warren Valley Wine Industry Association President Bob Peruch said unirrigated low-yielding vineyards experienced a near 100% recovery of excellent fruit. Yields were up […]

1998 vintage report for Upper Hunter Valley (New South Wales)

Andrew Cruickshank, president of the Upper Hunter Winemakers Association, expects 1998 to be a ‘famous year’ for reds, with high sugars and rich, ripe fruit flavours. Vintage in the region began earlier than usual and continued in hot, dry weather. Yields were average; Andrew said some white varieties cropped very well with a low incidence […]

1998 vintage report for Tumbarumba (New South Wales)

The Tumbarumba region saw a 100% increase in yield over last year. Frank Minutello, president of the Vignerons Association, explained that the 1997 vintage was affected by frost and 1998 saw some young vineyards coming on-line and others approaching peak production. Vintage in the area started on 20 February and continued in dry and hot […]

1998 vintage report for Tasmania

When this report was compiled not all figures were available, but indications are that there will be an increase in production of more than 50% over last year. Fred Peacock, secretary of the Vineyards Association of Tasmania, said the increase was partly due to an increase in bearing area, but was largely the result of […]

1998 vintage report for Swan Hill (Victoria)

Reds and whites ripened together in the Swan Hill region, causing problems with crushing schedules at some wineries. Colin Free, president of the Mid-Murray Wine Grape Growers Association, said vintage was early and started in mid-February. Yields of reds were average, with white varieties cropping above average. Quality of the fruit was very even, Colin […]

1998 vintage report for Perth Hills (Western Australia)

An excessively dry season, combined with damage from birds and kangaroos, led to a 30% decrease in the 1998 yield for the Perth Hills region. Maxinne Sclanders, president of the Perth Hills Vignerons’ Association, reports that vintage started (as normal) in late January for sparkling wines and was carried out in hot and dry weather. […]

1998 vintage report for Pemberton (Western Australia)

Vintage started in the last week of February for sparkling wine base. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for table wine was harvested in the first week of March for warmer vineyard sites while cooler vineyards started their harvest in mid-March. Heavy rain in mid-March delayed harvest in some vineyards and also caused some fruit rot. Patrick […]

1998 vintage report for Padthaway (South Australia)

Nick Bulleid of Southcorp reports that Padthaway had an exceptionally dry winter and, even though rainfall improved into spring, conditions remained dry. Budburst, although even, was between one and two weeks late. By the end of October Padthaway was headed for the second driest year in the last 27 years of records and irrigation starting […]

1998 vintage report for Orange (New South Wales)

Peter Hedberg of the Orange Region Vignerons Association reported that mild, dry conditions had produced some exceptional flavour and colour in all red varieties. ‘Cabernet, Shiraz and Merlot were excellent and Pinot Noir also showed great flavour for champagne base.’ Yields increased by 10% mainly due to good January rain. Weather during vintage was dry, […]

1998 vintage report for Murray Darling (NSW/Victoria)

Yields were average in the Murray Darling region but there was an increase in production of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz due to new vineyards coming into production. Grieg Greenwood, CEO of the Murray Valley Winegrape Industry Development Committee, said the quality for reds was the best for many years, with good dark colour and […]

1998 vintage report for Mudgee (New South Wales)

Hot, dry growing conditions at Christmas in combination with flowering resulted in a 10% decrease in yield in the Mudgee region. But the reduced yield increased the fruit quality in general, according to James Manners, assistant winemaker at Montrose. Weather during vintage was fine and warm to hot with the occasional shower in the later […]

1998 vintage report for Mount Benson (South Australia)

All facets of the 1998 vintage in the new region of Mount Benson in the south-east of South Australia ran smoothly and the quality of both red and white wines has been described as ‘exceptional’ by the chairman of the Vignerons Association, Jeffrey Flint. New vineyards coming into maturity and higher yields from mature vines […]

1998 vintage report for Mornington Peninsula (Victoria)

Mornington Peninsula experienced a big increase in yield — between 50 and 100% — of generally very high quality grapes across all white varieties. Ian Macr’ of the region’s Vignerons Association said the increased yield was due to bigger bunches with large berries and many berries per bunch. Weather during vintage was initially mild and […]

1998 vintage report for McLaren Vale (South Australia)

‘1998 is an excellent year for reds — excellent Baume levels and good natural acid have resulted in most red varieties achieving perfect balance,’ said David Dean, general manager of McLaren Vale Winemakers. He said whites ranged from good to excellent. ‘The Semillon was not as good as previous years, but Chardonnay is very good […]

1998 vintage report for Margaret River (Western Australia)

The region had unseasonal rain, mould and bird problems during 1998 but Simon Robertson, vineyard manager at Devils Lair, still expects most wineries to have good results with both red and white varieties.’Some red varieties are possibly over-cropped, but most wineries have been able to obtain good flavours and strong varietal characteristics from their reds. […]

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