Winemaker's Diary

2008 Vintage Preview ...

Well, if you’ve been keeping up on current vintages, or been speaking to Gavin, Dave or Nick, you’ll know that 2006 was the coldest WA summer in 10 years and the resulting vintage, while exceptional for whites was pretty devastating on reds. Roll forward to 2007, and you will have the polar opposite, hot dry and early … in fact vintage 2007 was over before 2006 started - meaning effectively two vintages within a twelve month period!

Gavin reports the 2008 vintage in the Great Southern is looking good. “ A dry winter, amazing spring rain over September and October gave the vines nourishment … the danger is that if the rain continues into November this can lead to infection - but this didn't happen. November and December (thus far at least) have been dry – record dry, no infection at all.”

“So, good vintage conditions, healthy vines and vigor and good tonnage expected - should be an excellent 2008 vintage. And early!”

Thanks for the good news Gavin!