As at February 14, 2012
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National overview
Stage
- Whites and sparkling base progressed in the warm inland, Queensland and Hunter regions
- Other regions generally completing veraison
Timing
- Traditional start is Australia Day and finish around Easter
- Variable reports re timing with the warm inland reporting ahead of long-term average but the cautious note that cooler weather, including rain in the eastern states, over the last week and a bit, has slowed the ripening
- West of WA had earliest ever start to harvest on record (20 Jan)
- Rains forecast in the eastern states and WA for late February
Yields
Yields are thought to be down on the whole (compared with last year definitely and possibly long term average) as a result of:
- Heavy crop loads last year
- Coolness/wetness at fruit set
- Deliberate shoot-thinning in some varieties
- Semillon and Shiraz in the Hunter are exceptions: both substantially up
- Early days in terms of visual impressions about crop load versus the final quantitative judgment at the weighbridge
Disease
- Heavy rain in late January has put disease pressure on vineyards in the Hunter
- Minimal disease in Murray Valley but at considerable cost of control to growers
- Other regions generally minimal problems
- No reports of constraints in availability of preventative sprays
Quality
Relatively mild and cooler season generally has allowed for slower ripening and more flavour development – but:
- A bit too early to tell for reds and –
- Some nervousness about the February weather forecasts (especially anticipated rain in many regions)
Regional key points
Riverina
- Harvest started early but has now slowed due to heavy rain
- Powdery has been detected in some vineyards
- Prices up slightly on average compared with last year
Hunter Valley
- Whites and sparkling base have been picked
- Heavy rains in Jan and Feb have affected ripening and are causing disease problems
- Shiraz, Semillon and Chardonnay yields up; Verdelho down
- Acid up; Baume down
Queensland
- Moderate temperatures and lack of sunshine have delayed harvest
- Yield down 10 – 20%
- Quality looking very good in whites
Murray Valley
- Harvest 2 – 3 weeks earlier than average
- Yield likely to be 20% down. Vines reacting to heavy crop loads in 2011
- Quality looking good on the back of a relatively mild season
- Upward price movements of around 5% – 7%
Limestone Coast (SA)
- Harvest likely to start in mid-February – about 1 -2 weeks early
- Minimal disease pressure but bird damage seems unusually high
- No extreme weather conditions mean high quality potential
Victoria (outside Murray Valley)
- Harvest yet to start – but is likely to be on time or slightly early
- Quality indications very good
- Yields expected to be consistent with long-term average
Western Australia
- Earliest harvest date on record in west of WA
- High spring rainfall in southern regions has produced large crops
- Heavy rains have meant more disease pressure but impact minimal due to vigilant spraying