Demand could out-strip supply in bushfire and weather affected winegrape harvest
It’s early days, but this year’s winegrape harvest looks like coming in a bit light, with a number of factors in play.
SA Business
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There could be a case of demand outstripping supply this vintage, with most wine regions expecting lower yields.
Harvest has started in the Riverland, but for most other regions, vintage is still some weeks away.
Riverland Wine executive chairman Chris Byrne said there was no doubt tonnages produced in the region would be down this year, with some growers opting to trade water, as they could make more on the water market than growing grapes.
“I expect yields will probably be down about 10 per cent,” he said.
The hailstorm that hit the region in November last year will also affect tonnages, with the natural disaster causing an estimated $8.4 million damage.
But early prices released for the region were promising and about 10 per cent up on last year.
“There is an upwards trend for prices, due to high demand for fruit. But there has been push back from the European market, who are not prepared to pay more for their wine. This will make it difficult for winemakers who have to pay more for grapes,” Mr Byrne said.
Clare Valley Wine & Grape Association general manager Lucy O’Brien said tonnages out of the region were expected to be on par with last year’s lower than average vintage.
Ms O’Brien said the season had thrown a range of challenges at growers, from lack of rain, heat and frost.
“Most growers are saying that whites are going to do well, with the riesling looking good, but yields for shiraz will be down,” she said.
SA Wine Industry Association chief executive Brian Smedley said with harvest still a fair way off in most regions, and with February and March being quite hot in past years, there was still a lot that could unfold in the next few weeks.
“But certainly the demand for fruit will be strong and I expect any uncontracted grapes would be snapped up pretty quickly,” he said.
Barossa Grape & Wine Association viticultural development officer Nicki Robins said the region’s 2020 wines will again be sought out early by fans and collectors, with yields tracking below the 10 year average due to temperamental spring weather, and a hot, dry summer.
“Barossa’s reduced yield is partly due to the hot, dry December and early to mid-January, similar to the 2019 season. However many growers managed this well with prudent attention to maintaining soil moisture and irrigating before heatwave events,” she said.
Adelaide Hills Wine Region executive officer Kerry Treuel said even without the devastating Cudlee Creek bushfire, yields were expected to be down in the region.
“The 2019-20 growing season in the Adelaide Hills has so far been notable for its variability,” she said.
“Periods of unseasonably low temperatures and occasional strong winds during flowering resulted in a variable fruit set across the region.
“Even prior to the Cudlee Creek fires, which has affected a many of our vineyards, fortunately to varying degrees, crop levels were looking at being slightly lower yielding than the five-year average.”
Limestone Coast Grape and Wine Council president Helen Strickland said a cool spring meant a slow start to the growing season.
“It certainly won’t be a race to the finish line this year,” she said.
“We’re still a long way off harvest. Padthaway will probably be the first to pick and they’re at least a month away.
“Every season has it’s challenges and this one is not different. We’ve had isolated incidences of hail and frost and of course heat. But we are fortunate in the South East that even through hot spells we tend to get cool nights, which gives the vines a chance to recover.”
Langhorne Creek Grape and Wine committee chairman Greg Follett said the region wouldn’t be harvesting in earnest until March.
“Last year turned out to be a pleasant surprise for most growers in Langhorne Creek. We were expecting yields to be well down, but they were only down by a couple of per cent,” he said.
“While last year turned out average, this year will definitely be down.”
Mr Follett said some frost early in the season and generally dry conditions would affect tonnages. Heat also caused some berry shatter.
“It is set to be some of the lowest volume crops we’ve produced, but the quality could be an absolute ripper,” he said.
McLaren Vale Irrigators Council chairman Jock Harvey said the region was enjoying a great season, with shiraz in particular looking exceptional.
“We’re going to start vintage a bit later than usual this year, due to the cool start to spring,” he said.
“But the season is looking very good, despite the dry winter. A lot of irrigators put in supplementary irrigation over winter.”
While smoke from the Kangaroo Island fires did drift over to McLaren Vale, Mr Harvey said grapes have been tested and there’s no evidence of smoke taint.