Filter reports by year

• 2015
• 2014
• 2013
• 2012
• 2011
• 2010
• 2009
• 2008
• 2007
• 2006
• 2005
• 2004
• 2003
• 2002
• 2001
• 2000
• 1999
• 1998
• 1997
• 1996

1998 vintage report for Yarra Valley (Victoria)

‘Excellent’ whites and ‘very good to exceptional’ reds have emerged from the 1998 vintage in the Yarra Valley, according to Chris Keyes from the Yarra Valley Wine Growers Association. He said some winemakers are claiming this is the vintage of the decade so far. ‘It was a very good ripening season – Chardonnay and Pinot came on very quickly and there is good colour and good sugars in the reds,’ Chris said. There was no disease and very little lightbrown apple moth. ‘It was a difficult year for those few producing botrytised dessert wines,’ he said. ‘The weather held for those with heavier, later ripening crops of Cabernet, which gave high flavour intensity, colour and sugars.’ The vintage started on 3 March, two to three weeks early, and ended on 20 May. Yields ranged from average to a 10% increase. Chris Keyes said that early season frosts in a few areas reduced Pinot Noir and Chardonnay crops. Water held out for most growers, ‘although it was a bit tight.’ The early harvest for Pinot and Chardonnay caused no problems, and birds were not a major problem this year.