The company says mild summer conditions have resulted in a long, slow ripening period with grapes reaching full physiological ripeness.
AVL CEO Neil McGuigan said: “The vintage to date in the warmer districts has been nothing short of sensational – quality is the best we’ve seen in decades. The whites are showing outstanding balance; Chardonnay for example is being harvested at 12.3 baumé, 3.16pH and 8.6 acid.”
McGuigan said: “To date we’ve harvested around 50% of our vineyards in the region and we’re very excited. The reds are showing great promise too. There’s no doubt that vintage across the regions has been mixed, but the Sunraysia and the Riverland are the definite highlight.”
Vintage conditions in the Hunter Valley have been difficult, says AVL. However the quality of the whites has been good to very good with excellent balance – a combination of sourcing from old vine stock in both the Upper and Lower Hunter. Reds however, have presented more of a challenge. The quality of whites from the Barossa, where vintage is nearing the half way point, has been encouraging, says AVL.
