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2008 vintage report for Canberra (NSW/ACT)

By Ken Helm
Helm Wines
On behalf of the Canberra
wine region

Helm Wines located at Murrumbateman experienced dry, warm conditions from early February to the last day of harvest, then enjoyed 20mm of rain.

The 2008 vintage was a record crush for Helm Wines (over 60t) which included 2000 cases of Riesling. The 2008 Rieslings will be as good as the outstanding 2005 vintage. The Canberra district yields are up 15-20% more than usual, but retain excellent acid, high sugar levels and ripe fruit flavours.

The excellent vintage was caused by good, late spring-summer rains, and a green Christmas – an unusual event for normally dry, brown Canberra. Temperatures remained warm to hot, with a mid-February hot spell that ripened fruit quickly.