Vintage Reports
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2012 vintage report for Coonawarra (South Australia)
The 2012 Coonawarra vintage has been labelled excellent by the regions winemakers. In a report provided by Coonawarra Grape Grower and Vignerons presidents Dan Newson and Sue Hodder, good winter rains resulted in a full soil moisture profile, leading to ample vine carbohydrate reserves. These optimal growing conditions combined with an early burst of warm […]
2012 vintage report for Clare Valley (South Australia)
Growing conditions leading up to vintage 2012 were relatively mild, with regular spring rains favouring good canopy growth, reported Kate Strachan, for Clare Region Winegrape Growers Association. Budburst was approximately 10 days earlier than the long-term average. This followed through until harvest time, with most varieties coming in one to two weeks earlier than in […]
2012 vintage report for Canberra District (Canberra District)
The 2012 vintage was the coolest since 1996 and among the wettest on record, but produced some excellent wines (particularly white wines and earlier ripening reds) at lower volumes. As in 2011, fruit came in with excellent flavours and colours at lower than usual Baumes, creating opportunities for winemakers to craft interesting, complex and elegant […]
2012 vintage report for Blackwood Valley (Western Australia)
Vintage 2012 was kind to Blackwood Valley growers in Western Australia, with spring rains and few frosty mornings allowing for good canopy and fruit development. A spokesperson for the Blackwood Valley Wine Industry Association said there had been few reports of disease and that yields were looking good. Being a region with few pest and […]
2012 vintage report for Bendigo (Victoria)
Bendigo had an excellent growing season, although rains during March had some effect on flavours. All wineries that purchase fruit were pleased, especially with the rich intense colour of the grapes. Bunch sizes were up roughly 10% on recent vintages, but yields were down about 30% on estimates, perhaps due to berry count. Source: Winemakers […]
2012 vintage report for Beechworth (Victoria)
Beechworth experienced one of its cooler vintages of recent years and one of its wettest summers on record. These conditions favoured elegant flavour development in Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc but Shiraz ripened slowly and most vineyards picked as late as they have ever done so. Some elegant, European-style Sangiovese and Nebbiolo […]
2012 vintage report for Barossa Valley (South Australia)
A warmer spring and cooler summer saw the Barossa Valley begin vintage 2012 with some exceptionally healthy vines and expectations for early maturation. Barossa Grape and Wine Association Inc communications manager James March reported maximum mean temperatures in the Barossa in spring (September to November) were slightly above average, which led to good vegetative growth, […]
2012 vintage report for Alpine Valleys (Victoria)
Thanks to its topography, Alpine Valleys avoided the worst of floods which hits neighbouring regions. Sparkling and other white varieties picked before the first rains showed good fruit flavour, as did Chardonnay and early red varieties picked in March. Later red varieties Merlot and Cabernet came in with slightly less sugar than usual but an […]
2012 vintage report for Adelaide Hills (South Australia)
The 2012 season began with some mixed weather messages in the Adelaide Hills. Adelaide Hills Wine Region president Darren Golding said leading into September, and just prior to budburst, winter rainfall was close to the long-term average for most parts of the Adelaide Hills, resulting in soil moisture profiles being full. However, there were fluctuations […]
2011 vintage report for Tasmania
Supplied by Sheralee Davies, chief executive, Wine Tasmania Growing season: Mild weather and frequent rainfall encouraged vegetative growth and full bunches, but also brought disease pressure that threatened to bring the vintage undone. The strong vegetative growth meant increased shoot thinning and leaf plucking was needed to keep canopies open. As veraison was delayed and ripening […]
2011 vintage report for Swan Valley (Western Australia)
Supplied by Julie Church, Swan Valley and Regional Winemakers Association Growing season: The weather leading up to vintage was dry, but as most vineyards have access to underground water sources, growers were able to substitute the lack of rainfall with irrigation. The ripening and vintage season was warm and dry with no significant rainfall. Vintage: […]
2011 vintage report for Strathbogie Ranges (Victoria)
Supplied by Sam Plunkett, chief winemaker, Plunkett Fowles Growing season: We were delighted to see dams fill over winter. Spring rainfall was well above average with the October, November and December falls all around double the long-term average. The growing season stayed wet with January the wettest on record (records started in Avenel in 1900) […]
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 […]
2011 vintage report for Scenic Rim (Queensland)
Supplied by John Mullins Growing season: Frequent and excessive rain, in particular during December and January, resulted in significant disease pressure in many vineyards in the region. Some monthly falls were up to three times the mean. Many crops were lost in December and January, predominantly to downy mildew due to an inability to get […]
2011 vintage report for Riverina (New South Wales)
Supplied by Kristy Bartrop, industry development officer, Riverina Wine Grapes Marketing Board Growing season: Riverina grapegrowers experienced an abundance of rainfall and moderate temperatures in the 2011 season. The wet weather and high humidity was experienced over the entire region from October to February, bringing risks of downy mildew, powdery mildew, lightbrown apple moth and […]
2011 vintage report for Pyrenees (Victoria)
Supplied by Pyrenees Grapegrowers and Winemakers Association Growing season: The 2010-11 season was one of, if not the, wettest season for many years. The district received good rains over a mild winter which provided excellent conditions leading into budburst. A late start to the season (generally two to three weeks late at every stage) and […]
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