Filter reports by year

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

2010 vintage report for Currency Creek (South Australia)

Supplied by the Currency Creek Wine Region Association
Growing season: The heatwave of November 2009 created a challenging event early in the growing season that had a significant impact on flowering right across the cool climate regions of South Australia. As with other regions, this heat affected any vines that were at the sensitive flowering stage in the Currency Creek wine region. Within single vineyards, the yields of early-flowering varieties were reduced, yet, there was little effect on the yields of their later-flowering counterparts. Fortunately, the cool nature of the Currency Creek region saw relatively few blocks at the critical flowering stage during this event. In fact, the blocks that had access to good water in adequate volumes were advantaged by this early-season heat in terms of canopy growth. The season then returned to ‘normal’ with mild weather in late November and through December. Despite a couple of hot spells after Christmas, February was cool and mild and vintage started just a few days earlier than in 2009.
Vintage: It was nice to see the vintage proceed in an orderly manner with a return to the old-fashioned gap between the picking of whites and reds, which made life easier in both the vineyard and the winery.
Yields and quality: While quality was good in the whites, early crop yields were reduced by 25-30% from average, with the later crops being about average. In the reds, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache yields were below average (due to lighter bunch weights), while Shiraz was above average and Merlot yields about average. All red varieties look very good this year and the cool and relatively dry finish allowed the fruit to hang until tannins ripened beautifully, with the last fruit picked on 21 April. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines all look to be of excellent quality with great length and generous varietal characters.