Vintage in Rutherglen got away to an early start with many picking in the first week of February, attributable to the heat in January and low crop loads as a result of frost in mid-October. Cofield senior winemaker and proprietor Damien Cofield said picking continued fairly constantly for the rest of vintage, baring small rain […]
Despite tough weather conditions during the lead up to vintage, vines in the Riverland still beared quality fruit. Riverland Wine executive officer Chris Byrne said if there had been an earthquake this vintage, it wouldnt have surprised Riverland grapegrowers who battled hailstorms, bushfires, frost, disease, pests and record rains. They overcame numerous challenges to produce […]
Riverina experienced severe frost in October which caused significant widespread damage to vineyards across the region. According to Riverina Wine Grapes Marketing Board industry development officer Kristy Bartrop, a large number of frosted blocks lost all or most of its bunches and as a result were not harvested. Chardonnay was in the midst of fruitset […]
The Pemberton wine region experienced a good growing season with favourable conditions, near perfect weather during flowering and low disease pressure. Salitage Wines winemaker Patrick Coutts said the region experienced heavy Marri blossom which meant bird pressure was relatively low. As the season progressed, bird pressure had increased and those with late varieties saw slight […]
Vintage 2014 started early in Peel with a number of vineyards commencing in the third week of January during a very hot summer in Western Australia. According to Peel Wine Association president Bernie Worthington, yields on whites were average and despite heat causing some sunburn, quality was excellent overall. He said red wine production was […]
According to Topper’s Mountain Wines Mark Kirkby, it has been a rough and unpredictable vintage in New England but will most likely turn out to be one of the best in the regions recent history since the mid-90s. Early vintage was pretty good generally across New England but it didnt take long for some troubles […]
Mudgee experienced one of the driest growing seasons on record with only 30ml of rain recorded from September through to February. Robert Stein Winery viticulturist and winemaker Jacob Stein said dry grown sites struggled to get canopy and good crop load and even irrigated sites had just enough water to meet the demand of the […]
After near perfect growing conditions, full-flavoured wines were expected from Mount Barkers 2014 vintage. According to the Mount Barker Wine Producers Association, growing conditions were ideal with mild temperatures, cool nights and low rain fall recorded. As of 8 April some vineyards had finished picking while others were in its final weeks. Mount Barker Wine […]
According to Mornington Peninsula Vignerons executive offer Cheryl Lee, good winter and early spring rainfall recharged soil moisture and filled dams at the beginning of the growing season, making it difficult to get tractors into the fields. But exceptionally cold and windy conditions in late October and early November through flowering resulted in poor fruitset […]
A wet beginning to the season with an average winter rainfall of 300-350mm did not persist with little rain received after November. A dry spring ensured the traditional low disease risk in McLaren Vale prevailed yet again. But the impact of summer was felt in McLaren Vale with two major heatwaves in January testing grapevine […]
The 2014 vintage in Margaret River was built on a sound foundation with excellent rainfall recorded throughout 2013, providing more than 1000 millilitres across the region. This provided a solid platform of sub-soil moisture before almost completely stopping from December through to March. With ideal diurnal weather conditions coupled with a constant breeze, there was […]
This year the Langhorne Creek wine region experienced a later than usual vintage. At the end of January the first harvesters rattled into life to begin the sparkling base intake and in late April the final loads of red grapes reached the wineries. According to Langhorne Creek Wine Region executive officer Lian Jaensch, it has […]
This year presented perfect ripening conditions in the Hunter with heavy November rains, followed by sunshine without any 40C-plus days. Little rain throughout January and February allowed winemakers to harvest the fruit at optimum ripeness, rather than being dictated by the possibility of inclement weather. According to the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association, all […]
According to Heathcote Winegrowers Association president Phil Meehan, the region experienced severe frost during spring but those affected still came out on top, producing yet another high quality vintage. Some yields were below expectations due to very warm climatic conditions which also made bunches considerably smaller. It was also a year of medium to high […]
According to Golden Grove Estate owner Sam Costanzo, it had been a difficult season this year with an early budburst, two late frosts, hail storms, successive heatwaves through summer and more birds fluttering about than usual. While the region was hit with all sorts of issues, vines in the Granite Belt region were used to […]
The Grampians defining features of the season included a cold snap during flowering and mild, benign weather conditions although very dry, according to Mount Langi Ghiran general manager and viticulturist Damien Sheehan. The heatwaves came before veraison but were without harsh northerly winds. Most growers were on the front foot and protected their fruit quite […]