Vintage Reports, Years: 2004
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2004 vintage report for Tasmania
To keep the Danish royal wedding celebrations going, 2004 rolled in a good vintage for Tasmanian sparkling wine. The cooler season allowed sparkling fruit to retain higher acid levels and the earlier picking times allowed this fruit to be generally clean. Harvest date was reported as two to six weeks later than last year, depending […]
2004 vintage report for Swan District (Western Australia)
The 2003-04 season was characterised by excellent winter and spring rains, which resulted in the best vine growth for several years. There was little rainfall during summer and early autumn, so almost all fruit was disease free. An absence of extreme high temperatures and regular cool evening seabreezes meant fruit ripened evenly, with excellent flavour […]
2004 vintage report for Riverina (New South Wales)
The season produced steady spring and winter rains resulting in healthy, strong vines and good berry set. Summer saw cool mornings and nights with slow ripening, producing excellent clean fruit with no diseases. Unfortunately, just as harvest began, the Riverina was hit with a prolonged heatwave, which caused the vines to shut down. Some vines […]
2004 vintage report for Henty (Victoria)
Relatively dry conditions prior to budburst allowed growers to be attentive to vine needs from the outset of the new season. Early canopy growth progressed without difficulty and by flowering, viticultural conditions were widely described with confidence. Weather conditions at this time were optimal with no difficulty in securing fertilisation and set. Growers were therefore […]
2004 vintage report for Hunter Valley (New South Wales)
The growing season was a marked improvement on the drought-affected 2003 vintage. All varieties responded to useful periods of rain supplemented by irrigation systems. Spring was generally cool with good rainfall, leading to excellent flowering and fruitset. The lead-up to harvest in late January was extremely hot and continued into February, resulting in advanced ripening […]
2004 vintage report for Grampians (Victoria)
The local vintage had most growers a little edgy early in the year; a hot January with plenty of bright sunshine followed by an unseasonally cold February left most wondering if the fruit would ever get through veraison and ripen properly. During spring, flowering and fruitset went well and there was plenty of bunches, so […]
2004 vintage report for Geelong (Victoria)
The greater Geelong region, covering vineyards on the Bellarine Peninsula, Anakie and Moorabool Valleys, Sutherlands Creek, Waurn Ponds, Lara and the Great Ocean Road area, generally experienced very high yields and a kinder growing season than last year. Grapegrowers were particularly happy with the good spring rains, the slower ripening period and lack of big […]
2004 vintage report for Goulburn Valley (Victoria)
Frost in the northern and central Goulburn Valley on 28 September caused significant bud damage to earlier bursting varieties, particularly Chardonnay and Riesling. Monichinos from Katunga had its first severe frost in its 42 year history, however secondary buds were reasonably fruitful following timely spring rains, hence final yields were surprisingly good. Average spring rains […]
2004 vintage report for Eden Valley (South Australia)
The average winter rainfall this season was a welcome relief after last years fourth-worst drought in history. The soil profile was filled, as were most dams. A relatively frost free, wet, warm and thundery spring followed, which created a natural greenhouse effect for the vines. They grew vigorously, flowered and, in general, set a large […]
2004 vintage report for Cardinia Ranges (Victoria)
The main feature of vintage in the Cardinia Ranges was the extended mild ripening conditions with few hot days, allowing good flavour development with relative preservation of acidity and slow sugar accumulation. Earlier in the season the region experienced a period of cold weather which delayed shoot growth by about two weeks; ideal flowering conditions […]
2004 vintage report for Canberra (NSW/ACT)
The 2002-03 drought impacted hugely on production. The effects continued to influence the current growing season although 2003/04 got off to a good start with better spring rains than have been seen for some years. Subsurface moisture was assisted by regular rainfall and thunderstorms through until early December. Conditions shifted markedly, as they usually do, […]
2004 vintage report for Clare Valley (South Australia)
The 2004 vintage had its challenges, but the strength of the Clare Valley as a premium wine region has shone through with some excellent wines produced, including some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon seen for several years. Winemakers have also commented favourably on the quality of their Riesling, and there were some excellent parcels of […]
2004 vintage report for Barossa Valley (South Australia)
A heavy fruitset initially had predictions for high yields in the Barossa, but bunch thinning around veraison brought crop levels back to manageable levels with promising quality. A mild January was excellent for optimal colour production and flavour development. Heatwave conditions in mid February saw acidity decline at a rapid rate in conjunction with rising […]
2004 vintage report for McLaren Vale (South Australia)
A longer than usual vintage, attributed to cool conditions during ripening, will produce quality wines. Good winter and spring rainfall ensured even budburst and enabled growers to maintain adequate soil moisture for maintenance of healthy grapevine canopies, from veraison to harvest, contributing to optimum flavour development. A warm dry November saw a rapid flowering period […]
2004 vintage report for Alpine Valleys (Victoria)
The growing season began around 23 September 2003, as the Chardonnay buds emerged to cool conditions, with snow down to 700 metres. This cold period continued during October, resulting in slower than average shoot growth. Rain periods were also frequent throughout October, resulting in unusually high disease pressure, which was managed competently by the regions […]
2004 vintage report for Mount Benson (South Australia)
The 2004 vintage produced the best yields for three seasons. The reds in particular set good crops, but all varieties yielded well. Spring conditions were excellent with good bunch numbers, fruitset and no disease. A dry summer with warm to hot conditions raised the expectations of a great vintage and saw a rapid increase in […]
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