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2009 vintage report for King Valley (Victoria)

Contributed by Stephen Lowe,
project officer, King Valley Vignerons.

Growing season: Budburst occurred mid to late September following the third consecutive dry winter where well below average rainfall was recorded throughout the valley. An extremely dry (<5mm) October was followed by above average rainfall in November and December which promoted shoot growth. Above average temperatures occurred from budburst to mid-November followed by slightly below average temperatures until late December. Flowering occurred in mid-November, and was longer than normal due to the cool conditions. January and February saw well above average temperatures coupled with very dry conditions which resulted in shoot growth cessation well before the onset of veraison in mid- January. The extended heatwave in late January/early February caused great concern. However, the knowledge gained from extensive canopy and water management trials and bunch zone temperature monitoring conducted over the past three years ensured that growers were fully prepared. Ample water applied prior to the heatwave together with good leaf cover over bunches resulted in minimal heat damage to the fruit. The February bushfires to the south and north were also a major concern for grapegrowers and winemakers alike. Fortunately, the high intensity/short duration nature of the smoke haze, as opposed to the high intensity/long duration nature of the 2006-07 bushfires, resulted in minimal smoke effect. Extensive grape and wine sampling was conducted in order to ensure that high quality King Valley grapes and wines were produced. Vintage: Harvest commenced mid-February for sparkling whites, followed by table whites throughout March. Red varieties ripened in an orderly fashion with the last of the fruit being harvested in late April. Yields and quality: Yields were average in both white and red varieties and ripening progressed well due to a higher leaf-area-to fruit-weight ratio and good leaf health. Despite the difficulties of the season, fruit quality was very good to excellent and winemakers are very pleased with the quality of the wines. Red varieties featured great colour, ripe flavours, soft juicy palate and ripe tannins, with Barbera, Sangiovese and Shiraz being real standouts. Some white varieties suffered a little but if consumed within the next couple of years they will be varietal and fuller-flavoured.