The Coal River Valley had excellent winter and spring rainfall according to Pooley Wines winemaker Anna Pooley. Flowering was somewhat hampered in parts of the region by wind resulting in patchy fruitset and lower yields but with cool nights and sunny, mild days, quality looked promising for Pooley Wines. At the time of this report […]
Wine Tasmania industry development and extension officer David Sanderson said the 2014 vintage was expected to result in strong quality with reduced yields following last years record high. The vintage started well, with excellent soil moisture and even bud burst but some areas suffered frost damage in spring, he said. Overall weather was conducive to […]
Vintage in Rutherglen got away to an early start with many picking in the first week of February, attributable to the heat in January and low crop loads as a result of frost in mid-October. Cofield senior winemaker and proprietor Damien Cofield said picking continued fairly constantly for the rest of vintage, baring small rain […]
According to Heathcote Winegrowers Association president Phil Meehan, the region experienced severe frost during spring but those affected still came out on top, producing yet another high quality vintage. Some yields were below expectations due to very warm climatic conditions which also made bunches considerably smaller. It was also a year of medium to high […]
According to Mornington Peninsula Vignerons executive offer Cheryl Lee, good winter and early spring rainfall recharged soil moisture and filled dams at the beginning of the growing season, making it difficult to get tractors into the fields. But exceptionally cold and windy conditions in late October and early November through flowering resulted in poor fruitset […]
Abundant winter and spring rain resulted in vines that commenced the season without stress and consequently led to an even bud burst in the Yarra Valley. Cool spring conditions resulted in lower than average yields as flowering was inhibited by cool, wet conditions. The Wine Yarra Valley Technical Sub Committee said the warmth returned in […]
The Grampians defining features of the season included a cold snap during flowering and mild, benign weather conditions although very dry, according to Mount Langi Ghiran general manager and viticulturist Damien Sheehan. The heatwaves came before veraison but were without harsh northerly winds. Most growers were on the front foot and protected their fruit quite […]
According to Swan Valley and Regional Winemakers Association president Duncan Harris, vintage commenced in the second week of January and concluded by the first quarter of April with tonnage sitting at 5000. Ideal weather conditions brought the region above average with even-ripening yields due to belated rain in September. Some growers reported a 10 to […]
Vintage 2014 started early in Peel with a number of vineyards commencing in the third week of January during a very hot summer in Western Australia. According to Peel Wine Association president Bernie Worthington, yields on whites were average and despite heat causing some sunburn, quality was excellent overall. He said red wine production was […]
Despite tough weather conditions during the lead up to vintage, vines in the Riverland still beared quality fruit. Riverland Wine executive officer Chris Byrne said if there had been an earthquake this vintage, it wouldnt have surprised Riverland grapegrowers who battled hailstorms, bushfires, frost, disease, pests and record rains. They overcame numerous challenges to produce […]
The Pemberton wine region experienced a good growing season with favourable conditions, near perfect weather during flowering and low disease pressure. Salitage Wines winemaker Patrick Coutts said the region experienced heavy Marri blossom which meant bird pressure was relatively low. As the season progressed, bird pressure had increased and those with late varieties saw slight […]
After near perfect growing conditions, full-flavoured wines were expected from Mount Barkers 2014 vintage. According to the Mount Barker Wine Producers Association, growing conditions were ideal with mild temperatures, cool nights and low rain fall recorded. As of 8 April some vineyards had finished picking while others were in its final weeks. Mount Barker Wine […]
The 2014 vintage in Margaret River was built on a sound foundation with excellent rainfall recorded throughout 2013, providing more than 1000 millilitres across the region. This provided a solid platform of sub-soil moisture before almost completely stopping from December through to March. With ideal diurnal weather conditions coupled with a constant breeze, there was […]
South Burnett Wine Industry Association president Jason Kinsella said there was only one word to describe the 2014 vintage in the region dry. The region commenced 2013 with record floods throughout January and February followed by the driest year in European settlement, with the South Burnett receiving little or no rain for the entire […]
According to Golden Grove Estate owner Sam Costanzo, it had been a difficult season this year with an early budburst, two late frosts, hail storms, successive heatwaves through summer and more birds fluttering about than usual. While the region was hit with all sorts of issues, vines in the Granite Belt region were used to […]
Riverina experienced severe frost in October which caused significant widespread damage to vineyards across the region. According to Riverina Wine Grapes Marketing Board industry development officer Kristy Bartrop, a large number of frosted blocks lost all or most of its bunches and as a result were not harvested. Chardonnay was in the midst of fruitset […]