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Dear //FirstName//
Isn't the passage of time a great leveller. No matter who you come across these days the one thing everyone appears to agree on is the speed at which time seems to pass. Though it was early April, it feels only days ago I was sharing with you the industrious buzz of vintage and the excited anticipation of the 2017 Barossa Vintage Festival. Now, with this all but behind us for another year, the Barossa is slipping into arguably its most alluring season.
Low slanting light, crisp mornings and the Valley carpeted in a rich tapestry of reds, yellows and oranges of every hue makes Autumn a paradoxically restorative prelude to winter. An opportunity to embrace a natural slowing amid the haste of modern living.
With the easing of vintages frenetic pace, Chief Winemaker Paul Lindner has been able to take a few moments to summarise vintage 2017:-
The Barossa experienced a wetter and cooler (2°C) than average winter and spring with good soil moisture levels. Vines grew slowly but healthily, mostly flowering well and setting a good number of bunches.
Temperatures were below average in December and January with few heat spikes and rains of 40mm spread evenly over four events kept the vines healthy with an unhurried veraison.
The 30 - 40mm summer rains of 4 - 6 February were followed by windy conditions and four consecutive 37°C days. This helped dry out canopies and prevent berry split. Additionally, soil moisture levels were topped-up, maintaining the canopies during a cooler than average summer. The rest of February remained dry and a warm March (average maximum temperature 28°C) saw the beginning of an Indian Summer which lasted until the third week of April with above average temperatures (2.5°C). This was perfect grape ripening weather with balanced sugars, colours and natural acidity.
These conditions resulted in a later harvest, some three to four weeks, than recent years, which was a return to ‘normal’. The later harvest allowed grapes to ripen more slowly and evenly with a gradual accumulation of sugars and flavours, which is exactly what we look for when making high quality Barossa wines.
The yields were around 20 - 30% higher than the five year average.
Eden Valley Riesling is predicted to be a stand-out this year and another strong year for Barossa Valley Shiraz which promises to deliver an array of styles from bright and aromatic wines from the earlier-picked vineyards through to concentrated, intense and well-structured wines.
Paul Lindner, Chief Winemaker.
Autumn is a beautiful time to visit if you're able but if not we can always send it to you. Many quite rightly turn their attentions to red at this cooling time of year but for a real taste of our local tradition, don't overlook fortifieds. Thankfully after a brief hiatus, our Liqueur Tawny has made a timely return to Cellar Door. Five years older, twice as beautiful and the perfect fireside tipple.
Hope to see you by our fireside soon.
Warm regards as always.
Jonathan Bitter
Cellar Door Manager
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