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2011 vintage report for Southern Flinders (South Australia)

Supplied by Margaret Blesing, Southern Flinders Winegrape Industry Council
Growing season: The growing season was shorter than in previous years. A cooler-than-average summer resulted in slower ripening. Rain mid-March, just prior to harvest, led to humid conditions causing powdery and downy mildew and botrytis, mainly in Shiraz. Rainfall was well above average for the hills area. Due to timely spraying regimes, no disease was present at picking in most vineyards. The cooler-than-average summer meant that picking for those vineyards east of the ranges was at least two to three weeks later than recent years.
Vintage: Harvest was more difficult this year due to the disease pressure in every vineyard, the later vintage and the Clare district coming in at the same time as us (we are usually earlier). Because of disease worries, a lot of growers needed harvesters at the same time.
Yields and quality: Yields are up on previous years but some fruit was not harvested due to disease. Wines are much lighter and thinner than usual. The wine company that harvests fruit from this region has indicated that the fruit from the three growers who supply them was among the best they received. Most yields were slightly better than average with no standout variety.