Vintage conditions

2017 Vintage

The growing regions across South Australia experienced a cool and wet winter and spring. Several longstanding rainfall records were broken across South Australia, with little need for supplementary irrigation until well into summer. Spring was typically windy in the warmer climate districts, especially in October, which created some challenges with fruit set. Despite cooler spring temperatures, the breezy weather helped ward off any danger from frost in Wrattonbully and Coonawarra. The prevailing cool conditions slowed the growing season with flowering and veraison both delayed, in select regions it was two weeks longer than average. There were no summer heatwaves, with only a handful of days recorded above 40 degrees. Warmer weather in March was welcomed, allowing grapes to finish ripening with great colour and varietal flavour. Vintage in the cooler southern districts was not completed until early May.