Filter reports by year

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

2011 vintage report for Adelaide Hills (South Australia)

Supplied by Adrian Loschiavo, Richard Hamilton and Simon Berry, Adelaide Hills Wine Region
Growing season: The 2010-11 growing season created difficult conditions for disease management with rainfall well above average, resulting in record levels of growing-season rainfall not seen for several decades. This was combined with mild day-time temperatures, warmer nights, high humidity and many overcast days throughout the season. High soil water levels also increased vine vigour, resulting in reduced spray penetration and airflow into the canopy. These conditions created many primary and secondary downy mildew infection periods and powdery mildew was observed in many vineyards. Continuous flights of lightbrown apple moth, combined with high levels of flowering trash trapped within bunches, resulted in widespread botrytis near harvest.
Vintage: Budburst was close to long-term average this season but about three weeks later compared with the previous three years. The vintage was three to four weeks behind the previous five seasons, with harvest dates similar to 2004. In the approach to vintage, widespread heavy rain fell in mid February and early March with frequent lighter falls also recorded. Many growers were challenged with high disease pressure and their best efforts could not avoid disease resulting in high rejection levels.
Yields and quality: The widespread disease incidence placed a huge demand on wineries to visit all vineyards in a timely manner. The successful harvest of most varieties required earlier fruit assessment to ensure it was picked in the best possible condition.
Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc were harvested with great flavours and wine potential, often at 0.5-1.5Be lower than has occurred in past seasons. Chardonnay was more difficult to manage with powdery mildew and botrytis claiming a high proportion of fruit, sometimes requiring selective hand-picking at higher cost. Some blocks were not harvested. Bunch weights were high and yields were above average. Semillon was picked with good yields and mostly clean fruit.
Pinot Noir was not harvested for dry wine production until late March-early April, with the best results in blocks that had been shoot-thinned and bunch-thinned. Yields were very high with high fruitfulness combined with subsequent heavy bunch weight. Cool conditions resulted in Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon struggling to reach contracted Baumé levels until late April when botrytis was causing issues prior to harvest. Additional bunch and shoot thinning and protectant fungicides were required to ensure fruit maintained condition. However, some fruit was lost to disease. April was warmer with many sunny, windless days allowing fruit to ripen further and get harvested at close to winemakers’ desired Baumé levels.