Vintage Reports, Years: 1998
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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. […]
1998 vintage report for Southwest Coastal (Western Australia)
The region produced a 30% increase in yield, due mainly to new plantings, good fruitset in most varieties and no frost problems. Marcus Ansems, chief winemaker/viticulturist at Baldivis Estate, said weather during vintage was warm and dry, with a couple of hot days early and late rains post harvest. Incidence of fungal disease was low. […]
1998 vintage report for Rutherglen (Victoria)
Yields were variable in the Rutherglen region in 1998. ‘Low rainfall had a dramatic impact on dry-land vineyards, giving very low yields,’ said Chris Pfeiffer, president of the Winemakers of Rutherglen. ‘Irrigated vineyards were down slightly.’ Vintage started early in mid-February and it was a brief vintage for many, with grapes coming in quickly. ‘Some […]
1998 vintage report for Robe (South Australia)
Unlike most other regions, Robe had an early budburst, in spite of the dry, cool winter. As in Coonawarra, the continuing dry spring conditions prompted an early start to irrigation, but later rains improved the situation greatly. The main problem for Robe this season was with wind, which was strong throughout spring in this usually […]
1998 vintage report for Clare Valley (South Australia)
Winter brought the driest July in Clare since 1982, with only 32 mm of rain. August and September were an improvement, producing some badly needed run-off and bringing soil moistures and dams back to normal levels. As in other parts of South Australia, October was dry until the very end, when 111 mm fell, taking […]
1998 vintage report for Koppamurra (South Australia)
This year marked the first substantial vintage for the new region of Koppamurra in the south-east of South Australia. James Wark, president of the Grape Growers Association, reports that generally favourable viticultural conditions during the growing season, with no peaks of extreme weather, resulted in crops which were fully ripened with excellent flavour and colour. […]
1998 vintage report for King Valley (Victoria)
A return to more classical North East Victoria summer conditions has resulted in excellent quality fruit, according to Peter Read, president of the King Valley Grapegrowers’ Association. Vintage was early and began in early February for sparkling varieties. Yields were up 20% on 1997. ‘Last year was low,’ said Peter. ‘This year we had good […]
1998 vintage report for Hunter Valley (New South Wales)
Mount Pleasant Estate manager/winemaker Phillip Ryan believes the 1998 vintage in the Hunter Valley will shape into a vintage long remembered for the quality of wines produced. ‘1998 reds are outstanding,’ he said. ‘The warm dry conditions have led to high sugar levels and anthocyanin concentration in the grapes. The wines are deep in colour […]
1998 vintage report for Hastings River (New South Wales)
There were unusually dry harvest conditions and a very smooth vintage in the Hastings River region. Vintage started a little earlier than usual on 22 January with sparkling base. Spokesman for the Hastings River Vignerons, John Cassegrain, reports that yields were about 5% down on last year, mainly because of the necessity to prune vines […]
1998 vintage report for Great Western (Victoria)
Southcorp’s Nick Bulleid said that winter was so dry at Great Western that 55 mm of rain in August had little effect on soil moisture profiles. Over 120 mm in September brought welcome relief but it was not long before conditions again became dry. The clear skies brought several frosts, one of which on 18 […]
1998 vintage report for Great Southern (Western Australia)
Tony Smith, chairman of the Great Southern Wine Producers’ Association, describes 1998 in the region as ‘a good vintage with some interesting angles which stretched the abilities of both viticulturist and winemaker.’ Yields averaged 8 to 10 tonne/hectare. He said 1997 produced average winter rains which carried through most of the spring, enabling water storage […]
1998 vintage report for Granite Belt (Queensland)
After an initial setback when hail in early October affected the yield by up to 40%, conditions improved and Granite Belt producers are generally happy with the 1998 vintage. There was little disease reported, apart from a bit of botrytis in the white varieties. Spokesperson Sam Costanzo said vintage started about two weeks earlier than […]
1998 vintage report for Grampians (Victoria)
Vintage was early in the Grampians region, picking starting early in March. Secretary of the Grampians Winemakers, Val Toomey, attributed a 20% increase in yield over last year’s figures to the warm and dry weather at setting time. The weather continued warm and dry until early April when it turned cold, slowing ripening of red […]
1998 vintage report for Goulburn Valley (Victoria)
‘Some of the best quality reds seen for many years,’ said Terry Monichino, secretary of the Goulburn Valley Wine Association. He described the whites as ‘average quality generally,’ although Sauvignon Blanc in some vineyards was below average. Vintage began on 13 February and generally an average yield was recorded. Weather during vintage was very dry […]
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