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1997 vintage report for Granite Belt (Queensland)

Denis Parsons from Bald Mountain Winery in Queensland reports that most producers in his region would be happy. They had one of the best summers they could recall. After 3-4 years of extreme drought, vines struggled last year. This year yields were good and fruit was of good quality. Rainfall generally had been good. Some wet weather-10 days of continuous rain in February-caused some of the early white varieties to get a bit of botrytis. Red grapes hung very nicely, were nicely shrivelled with good high baume. Denis was doing his final picking in the last week of April (Shiraz). In the case of Bald Mountain production would be significantly up (approximately 25%) on last year, but this may reflect some improvements made in trellising. Preston Peak Wines, owned by Toowoomba-based vignerons Ashley Smith and Kym Thumpkin, reports an excellent 1997 vintage from its Wyberba vineyard. Rainfall in February forced some early harvesting of ther Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. The fruit was carefully hand-picked, resulting in excellent fresh flavours. However, most of the Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon was left in the rain, waiting for autumn. ‘Autumn on the southern Darling Downs is tyically dry, cool and sunny,’ Mr Smith said. ‘The opportune return of sunshine allowed full ripening of the remaining grapes, which were harvested in mid-March. The generous fruit flavours evident in the later harvest have been blended with the February harvest to produce white wines easily as good as our acclaimed 1996 vintage. ‘With the cool, dry weather continuing into April, we were able to harvest our red varieties at full ripeness. They show an intensity of colour, with rich flavours. The red ferments were finished by the end of April and already the wines show exceptional promise. ‘Our 1997 Chardonnay is being sourced from the high altitude vineyards around Orange in New South Wales. The fruit was harvested in the last week of April. Vintage conditions around Orange this year have been excellent,’ Mr Smith said.