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1998 vintage report for Riverland (South Australia)

The 1998 vintage in the Riverland of SA was down slightly on pre-season estimates. The downturn was mainly in red varieties and while this improved the quality, in view of market demand the result was disappointing. Vintage in the region began on 17 February with Verdelho and continued with excellent weather. There was some rain in late April but this did no harm and simply delayed the end of vintage by a week. Lower yields of varietal reds has resulted in some excellent wines showing at this early stage. Stand-out varieties in 1998 are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Quality of Shiraz is quite variable with early-picked fruit of excellent quality, but overcropped, overstressed wines have paid the price in terms of quality. Rod Chapman, chief winemaker at Kingston Estate, described 1998 as overall an excellent year for reds, resulting in many high quality wines. He said the reds exhibited intense dark colours, full varietal characters and richness on the palate, with good firm tannin finish. Rod said it was generally an acceptable to good year for whites. ‘Many Chardonnays are of full bodied style with generous alcohol level. Colombard with mature fruit produced pleasant tropical flavoured wines and Verdelho was very good, with rich, peachy fruit flavours.’ He said Baume levels rose quickly around mid-Februry which caused some concerns among winemakers, particularly in respect to Chardonnay intake. The rapid maturing placed immense pressure on harvesting and winery white processing operations. A higher than average intake of grapes into wineries occurred during the last three weeks of March and refrigeration and red fermentation capacities were stretched to the limit. Increased quantities of winegrapes coming on stream (the region is projected to increase production by 50% over the next five years) has all winemakers gearing up with expanded processing facilities being put in place. Most wineries have called a halt to further winegrape contracts as they consolidate and take stock of likely tonnages and varietals coming on stream in the next few years.