Latest Vineyard News

Chardonnay, regardless of where it is grown in Australia ( with maybe the exception of Margaret River) has become a tough sell as it is oversupplied in the bulk and bottled markets, thanks largely to NZ Sauv-Blanc. Blaxland obtained an annual purchase agreement albiet at low prices to sell a portion of the crop. Fruit quality was very low across the entire vineyard with a spring frost causing variability then topped off with a hail storm late in the season damaging berries and canopy. 319 tonnes of Chardonnay were harvested and delivered for winemaking.

Old Mundulla Vineyard has suffered the worst impact from the summer heat of all our vineyards. So much so that the Petit Verdot (lowest vigour variety) aborted the entire crop and no Petit Verdot was picked this year. All the other varities suffered significant losses and 2,257 tonnes was picked at an average of 8.5 tonnes per hectare.

The irrigation system is recieving increased maintenance in this post vintage peroid as water quality is slowly detiorating with iron bacterial build up in the system. The SA government has also written to us and advised of water restrictions of approximately 20% to take effect in the next financial year. We do not anticipate any significant changes from these water restrictions in FY 2010.

Apprximately 300 tonnes of grapes has been turned into wine at the Dorrien Winery with a view to increasing revenue on the bulk wine market. The vintage resulted with 1041 tonnes picked from the vineyard which is more evidence that the frost protection system was a good investment. We have recieved very positive feedback from some of our winemakers this year.

Again Tanunda Hill has been affected by heat wave conditions in Febuary and suffered significant crop loss. Final tonnes for the vineyards are 1,500 for Tanunda Hill 1 and 1,038 for Tanunda Hill 2. These results are dissappointing but average or above average in comparison to other vineyards in the Barossa. Fruit quality was generally lower but depedent on the variety, with some really good parcels ofwine showing up. Some small parcels of winehave been retained to evaluate fruit quality and alternate marketing oppurtunities.

Significant progress is being made on the implementation of Recyled Water on the Vineyards and it is anticipated that early next Financial Year we will see the first splash of recyled water come out of the pipe. this will significantly improve both the quantity of water available and the cost of water for the vineyard.

Heathcote Ridge Vineyard has been through its first vintage and we are very pleased with this performance. For all the stage 1 plantings that cropped for the first time this year yield was in excess of projections by around 30%. The vineyard has continued to conslidate well over the irrigation season with good vine growth achieved.