Vintage Reports, Years: 1999
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1999 vintage report for Barossa Valley (South Australia)
Barossa Valley yields were down by an estimated 5-15% this year, according to Brian Walsh, chairman of the Barossa Winemakers’ Committee. Following a higher than average 1998 harvest, vines set slightly lower crops. The hot dry weather also contributed to lower yields. The weather during vintage featured below average rainfall and above average temperatures from […]
1999 vintage report for Adelaide Plains (South Australia)
Vintage in the Adelaide Plains region began on 20 February and showed a small (5%) decrease in yields. Joe Grilli, president of the Adelaide Plains Winemakers’ Association, said it was a fairly standard vintage, although hectic for new staff. A very dry growing season was followed by ‘freak’ late March rains generated by a cyclone […]
1999 vintage report for Adelaide Hills (South Australia)
Although far from the ‘vintage from hell’ the 1999 vintage in the Adelaide Hills Wine Region was certainly difficult and not helped by disease and bird pressures, said the region’s president, Chris Laurie. The vintage was always destined to be below average tonnages, due to poor set following flowering. This was exacerbated by an extremely […]
1999 vintage report for Southwest Coastal (Western Australia)
Marcus Ansems, chief winemaker/viticulturist at Baldivis Estate, said yields in the South West Coastal region were up 10% in a very good season. Everything was off before the rain came. Vintage started in mid February with Chardonnay, followed by high yielding Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in early March. Semillon was slightly late. Quality […]
1999 vintage report for Rutherglen (Victoria)
Bernard Gehrig of the Winemakers of Rutherglen said 1999 was ‘a year we would like to forget.’ A 30% decrease in yield resulted from frost and less than normal rain for dryland grapes. Weather during vintage was dry early, then rain at Easter slowed ripening. However, the reasonably dry spring and summer made for a […]
1999 vintage report for Robe (South Australia)
The Robe region to the west of Coonawarra had a similar season to its more famous neighbour — hot and dry. This weather continued through January and February, although foggy, misty mornings developed in March, not unusual in this coastal region. Nick Bulleid reports that Robe Shiraz has very good colour and rich varietal flavour.
1999 vintage report for Riverina (New South Wales)
Les Worland, chairman of the Winemakers of the Riverina Promotions Committee, said yields in the region increased by 32% over last year. ‘This was an exceptional year for yield after many ordinary ones, with rainfall at vintage and new plantings coming on stream all contributing,’ said Les. Rain in mid-March and at Easter delayed vintage […]
1999 vintage report for Riverland (South Australia)
In the Riverland, significant crop increases in premium varieties as a result of new planting coming into bearing offset average to below average yields in established vineyards. Overall there was a 15-20% increase on 1998. Bill Moularadellis, president of the Riverland Winemakers Association, said heavy rain just prior to the start and during the early […]
1999 vintage report for Pyrenees (Victoria)
Vintage started on 15 February in the Pyrenees region, said Roger Milner of the Vignerons Association. Yields were down about 10%, but the decrease was not consistent across the region. Some vineyards were not affected by frost in October, and some vineyards increased yields with new plantings. Roger said weather during vintage was hot early, […]
1999 vintage report for Perth Hills (Western Australia)
There should be some different wines from the Perth Hills this vintage, says the newsletter of the region’s Vignerons Association. It reports that a hallmark of the 1999 vintage will be the cooler but more humid summer experienced. After mild conditions during most of the season it warmed up towards the middle of the harvest […]
1999 vintage report for Pemberton (Western Australia)
Growers and producers believe it is the best season seen in the Pemberton region according to a report prepared by Patrick Coutts, president of the Pemberton Wine Region Association. Fruit has well defined fruit flavour at lower alcohol than is often the case in this area. The vintage date was about 10 days later than […]
1999 vintage report for Padthaway (South Australia)
The long dry summer experienced this season was ideal for grapegrowing. Even temperatures and lack of rain has produced good quality grapes in most cases. Ian Ward, president of the Padthaway Grapegrowers Association, said that frosts in late October and early November left isolated areas of damage; however overall damage in the area was slight […]
1999 vintage report for Orange (New South Wales)
Vintage in the Orange region started on 15 March, late for the area. Yields were up 15% on last year, said Craig Stubbs, secretary of the Orange Region Vignerons Association. Reasons were a very wet winter in 1998 which provided excellent soil moisture. Subsequent warm weather in spring made for a high proportion of buds […]
1999 vintage report for Murray Darling (NSW/Victoria)
The Murray-Darling region had a difficult year, with weather conditions making scheduling difficult, according to Grieg Greenwood, executive officer of the Murray Valley Wine Grape Industry Development Committee. The yield in the region increased by 18%, due mostly to an increase in the bearing area of vineyards. Above average yields were recorded for Chardonnay and […]
1999 vintage report for Mudgee (New South Wales)
The Mudgee region experienced good winter and spring rains and a dry, cool growing season. However, heavy rain in mid vintage caused some big problems with botrytis, said Ian MacR’, vice chairman of the Mudgee Wine Grape Growers Association. Yields were average with a lot of new vineyards bearing their first crops. Ian said some […]
1999 vintage report for Mount Benson (South Australia)
Derek Hooper, secretary of the Mount Benson Vignerons Association, said the region had experienced yet another year of dry seasonal conditions, finishing the vintage in a hurry. ‘Overall, yields were 10% down on estimate but quality was very good.’ Yields ranged from 2.5-6 tonnes depending on variety. Derek said Shiraz and Cabernet produced small open […]
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