The grape yields are 11% down on the 2008 vintage and 20% down on the long-run average for Australia's 2009 vintage. In most places the cooler wet weather around November hampered flowering and so decreased the amount of grapes per bunch. Compounding this, the lower than average temperature in December went on to reduce the rate of berry development, thus lowering the bunch weight and slowing down the ripening process.
Then came the heat wave. In the southern wine growing regions it was on average 38°C for two weeks running, spiking to 45°C in the major grape producing areas of South Australia. These record hot temperatures caused a slowdown in ripening, some sunburn and grape shrivelling, which in the worse cases lead to whole vineyards losing their crop as the vines switched into survival mode, dropping thier fruit and shutting down.
2009 a Better Vintage for Australian Reds than Whites
This vintage will definitely be one for reds rather than whites. The white grape varieties having suffered the worst of the heat at the worst possible time, right around harvest, giving growers less chance to compensate for the adverse effects.
Not many areas suffered more than the state of Victoria, where the hot dry weather conditions were disastrous, especially for the Yarra Valley, which has seen some 5% of its vineyard area destroyed by fire. It is likely that the smoke taint from the fire will further reduce the amount of grapes reaching the crusher this year.
What To Expect Of Australia's Wines from 2009
So what does this mean for the quality and availability of Australian wine? Well, the reduced yields may offer some relief as it will likely be accompanied by an increase in quality. Declining demand and large surplus stocks from previous vintages mean producers will tend to be more selective in the grapes they pick with poor quality grapes being rejected.
Any grapes adversely affected by this year’s conditions are likely to be dropped or left on the vine resulting in only the highest quality vineyards being used for wine production. Good news for red wines as a slower and more even ripening period with fewer berries per bunch are giving good flavour concentrations. Balanced against higher natural acidity levels and reduced alcohol is producing wines that are probably going to be more elegant and structured. This year the white wines will be very site dependent in terms of their quality.
The Riverland, which produces much of Australia’s cheaper wines, had a great vintage, the Hunter Valley suffered from the adverse weather and in South Australia, some sites did well surviving the drought and heat whilst other sites suffered. Australia will be producing some awesome wines this year, we just have to get accustomed to the idea that to really get to taste the potential of what this country can produce we will need to pay a little more, but the wines will be well worth the extra cost.
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