Vintage Conditions

Many winemakers have called the 2022 vintage ‘the tale of two harvests’ — one of the more unique in recent memory. Abundant autumn and winter rainfall at the end of 2021 and the start of 2022 alleviated the three-year drought. The mild spring brought a promising early beginning, with budburst and flowering slightly ahead of the curve. The summer surprised growers with cool mornings and warmer afternoons. With ample rainfall, the vines developed healthy protective canopies. There were two heat spikes in May and June, but they emerged early in the season and did little to trouble growers. A more intense heatwave in September forced growers to decide whether to harvest their crop early or ride out the heat. Location influenced the thinking, with elevated mountain vines experiencing cooler conditions than the valley floor. Many growers decided to do both, allowing for a range of blending components. The vintage produced smaller berries with concentrated flavours and remarkable acidity, resulting in balanced wines. South Australia experienced a growing season with near-average winter rainfall and moderate La Niña effects delivering heavy rain in spring. A dry December led to temperate summer conditions, with minimal extreme heat. This allowed for a harvest under ideal conditions, enabling grapes to ripen steadily with strong varietal markers.