Filter reports by year

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

2000 vintage report for Lachlan Valley (New South Wales)

‘2000 was a very difficult season,’ said John Saleh of Lachlan Valley Grapegrowers. ‘The region usually requires only a minimal spray program but anyone attempting that approach this year had disease problems.’ Vintage started on 15 February, and was much later than normal. John said yield was down by 20-50% on last year’s crop. White grapes were down 20-50% depending on variety; early Chardonnay (on lighter soils) was hit by frost. Red grapes were down 20-40%; however some crops were lost or used for distillation due to disease and weather. Weather during vintage was cooler than usual with frequent nuisance rainfalls. Spring was cool with frequent showers. Good rain fell in the last week of December and was followed by a heatwave during January. ‘The vines reacted badly after the cooler growing season,’ John said. Cooler showery conditions resumed in February. Conditions were ideal for botrytis. Some growers had problems with powdery and downy mildew. Frequent rainfalls made it hard to achieve ideal Baumes in red grapes and some crops of all varieties were lost to disease. John said the 2000 red wines would be lighter in style than in 1999, with the exception of Pinot Noir. Acid levels were good. White wines would be bigger and more forward wines than last year; however acid levels were higher (better) than normal and they may be more long lived. ‘It would appear that over-supply was avoided by the poor vintage,’ said John. ‘However, the region still produced more grapes than in 1999 due to large new plantings having their first and second crops.’