Vinårgångar i Australien

Här har Tryffelsvinet sammanfattat allt du behöver veta om de senaste vinårgångarna i Australien

Det går inte att tala om vin utan att prata om vädret. Temperatur, nederbörd och vindar kommer att påverka det vi häller i våra glas och det spelar ingen roll hur tekniskt avancerade vi människor blir – i slutändan kan vi aldrig påverka vädrets makter. Här har vi samlat matnyttig information om väderförhållandena i Australien de senaste åren och hur det påverkat vinernas kvalitet.

Tabellen ovan kan ses som en fingervisning för årgångens generella kvalitet på en skala från 1-10, där 10 är högsta betyg. Observera att denna sida och tabell uppdateras löpande och är därför inte en fullständig förteckning. 

Källa: barossawine.com

2024

After a long and late 2023 vintage, 2024 vintage has proved to be quite the opposite.
Despite a reasonable break at the end of the 2023 harvest, the Barossa did not receive the
soaking winter rains growers had hoped for. Luckily there were some rains in December and January, as February had no rain recorded
at all.

With dry springs come clear and cold and frosty nights, and minimum temperatures across the Barossa were lower than average for all spring months. Damaging frosts particularly, in September and October meant some vineyards had significant damage that influenced their subsequent yield.
Daytime temperatures in October and November were close to average, although windy
weather and a heat spike in the middle of November did cause issues with some vineyards
where this was coincident with flowering, and hence fruit set.

In 2024, quality across the board looks exceptional, although yields were variable. Depending on site and variety, crops are anywhere between 50 and 90% of normal. Particular standouts in the Barossa Valley are Grenache and Cabernet, but that’s not to take away from some exceptional parcels of Riesling, Semillon and Shiraz. In the Eden Valley the whites are electric – with great natural acids and fine aromas, Riesling of course stands out, as do most of the other varieties.

2023

Barossa’s 2023 vintage was 3-4 weeks later than the ‘new normal’ of the past 20 years. Similar to, but even later than, 2002. Due to a combination of Negative IOD and La Niña climatic patterns, Barossa’s spring rainfall was one of the wettest on record, with an additional 131% more rain than the long-term average. Barossa experienced 53 rain days in Spring. Overall, the growing season saw average soil moisture and strong budburst.

As well as flooding some low-lying vineyards, the constant winter rain created some Downy Mildew disease risk. Fortunately, the majority of Barossa growers had diligent spray programs. Happily, the rain caused run-off into most Eden Valley dams this season – for the first time in many years.

The hard work needed in the vineyard for the 2022/23 season paid off. Reds have intense, rich and balanced flavours and colours; whites have lovely aromatics, finesse and great natural acidity. An early standout is Cabernet Sauvignon.

2022

The wet winter was welcomed after the previous 3 years where the rainfall tally did not reach 200mm. The 2021 winter was the wettest winter recorded at Nuriootpa Weather Station since 1996. October and November also presented rainfall totals above average. Some windy and damp weather in November lead to a poor set in some varieties and vineyards. December produced rainfall that tallied only 8% of the long-term average, typical of summer. The forecast and expected summer rains from La Nina did not eventuate, to most growers’ relief.

The ongoing resilience of growers has seen them rewarded for the efforts this year.  Some affected by the early hail have ripened second crop successfully, some even had average to above average crops in some varieties such as Grenache. Fruit from the later varieties and sites were picked in early May. Winemakers are talking about V22 wines as elegant and structured, with depth and length of flavour.

2021

Quality is exceptional across the varieties and styles from 2021. Reds have intense, rich, and balanced flavours and colours; whites have lovely aromatics, finesse, and great natural acidity. A vintage for now and the long term.

With relatively good rainfall in Autumn, and again towards the end of Spring, soil moisture was generally at good levels going into Summer. This, along with reasonably cool summer temperatures, meant the vines were healthy; a good number of bunches set, and berry size remained at optimum levels for high quality wine grape production.

There was much anticipation that labour resources required for hand picking would not be available this vintage due to border closures, but with the cooler weather slowing ripening, vintage was less compressed than previous years and it was much easier to source labour than first thought.  Harvest continued well into April as the dry Indian summer continued to ripen the grapes.

2020

The Barossa wine industry has faced another challenging vintage in 2020, with yields tracking at least 50% below the 10-year average. The positive news is quality is high, and Barossa’s in-short-supply wines will remain in strong demand on the domestic and international wine scene. Barossa’s reduced yield is due to another below-average rainfall winter and spring, temperamental spring weather – and a hot, dry December and early January.

The good news is flavours and colours (in reds) and overall quality is exceptional.  Early standout varieties include, but won’t be limited to, Shiraz and Grenache and Cabernet.

2019

The 2019 Barossa Valley vintage is shaping up to be a stand-out, with strong indications of very high quality but with below average yields. The growing season started dry and continued that way.

Throughout the season, the flavour and phenological ripening kept up with the sugar development and despite the challenges of the dry season and in many vineyards limited water, most vineyards ripened what grapes they had evenly and completely, once again proving the tenacity of the grape vine, the terroir of the Barossa and the value of old vines. Yields varied from vineyard to vineyard and variety to variety.  Many experienced poor set due to the multiple influences already listed. Resulting yields are very variable; in most vineyards below average, in many well below.  Some are reporting the lowest yielding of the past decade.

The good news is that flavours and colours (in reds) and overall quality is exceptional.  Standout varieties include, but won’t be limited to, Shiraz and Grenache and Cabernet.

2018

Barossa 2018 vintage wrapped up at the end of April 2018, with grape growers and winemakers happy with a high-quality vintage and good yields. With summer rainfall 50% of average, growers with access to water, soil moisture monitoring, good irrigation management and healthy soils experienced less stress – and subsequently delivered sound fruit and consistent yields.

The Indian summer of March and early April was ‘the icing on the cake’, with average temperatures, without extremes, perfect for finishing off vintage. The 28-30mm of rain on 14/15 April did not cause any major problems for picking – and was a welcome post-harvest watering for most Barossa growers.

2017

Barossa’s 2017 vintage wrapped-up a month or more later than in recent years, with some stand-out wines showing a lot of promise and an overall yield 20-30% above a low five-year average. In stark contrast to the previous year, the 2016 growing season was one of the wettest on record. The resulting wet soils, combined with a cooler than average spring and early summer meant the vines grew slowly but healthily.

Barossa’s 2017 Reds have been described by one winemaker as having “incredible length of flavour, full-bodied, yet fine. Not a boisterous year – rather one with exceptional elegance and poise”.

2016

The 2016 Barossa winegrape harvest was a stand-out, with high quality fruit and supply returning to normal after several low-yielding vintages. Despite the challenges of the dry season and in many vineyards limited water, most vineyards ripened evenly and completely, once again proving the tenacity of the grape vine – and the value of old vines.

Higher than average bunch numbers in a very dry year meant berries were mostly smaller than average. The result overall were good but not bumper yields, with great flavours and colours (in reds) and surprisingly good natural acids. Standout varieties this year include Shiraz and Grenache.

2015

Things started well for 2015 with above average early winter rains that filled the soils and dams. Despite a drier than average August, winter rains were 20% higher than average. August and Spring were drier and had warmer days (1-4C) than average, meaning the vines got away to a good healthy start. Unfortunately, this dry weather meant that when the night time temperatures, which were not higher than average, dipped there were again some mid-late spring frosts – not as widespread as the previous year but equally damaging for those where they occurred.

March was also very dry and close to average in day time temperature, with nights more than 1C lower than average. Most of the vintage was harvested before the end of March, with only the very late sites and varieties left to pick in April. Yields (unless affected by frost) were a bit below or close to the recent average and certainly better than the last two lighter years. Whites are showing delicate flavours and lovely natural acidity, and reds strong colours and rich flavours.