As the season draws to a close, a distinction in production conditions in northern latitudes versus southern latitudes has emerged. The more northerly districts, principally the warm inland districts of the Murray-Darling in Victoria and New South Wales, the Riverina in New South Wales and the Lower Murray in
South Australia fared better than the south. As a result of improved production conditions in the north, increased production from these areas more than compensated for the shortfall on potential in the south. Preliminary estimates suggest that while winegrape tonnages out of cool climate districts declined by around 5% compared to last year, production from the warm inland districts increased by 15%.
The best news out of the season is of exceptional quality across-the-board. Winegrape producers in the warm inland districts are talking about the best season yet for quality - rivalling the quality achieved in the cool climate districts which is also at high levels. In contrast to season 2001, when the prevailing conditions favoured reds over whites, the 2002 seasonal conditions generally favoured both equally.
In weather terms, a wet spring in most regions was followed by a mild summer and these conditions resulted in reduced fruit set, small berries, slow ripening and a late season. While these conditions produced lower-than-average vineyard yields they also resulted in exceptional quality. The slow ripening allowed full development of colour and flavour, the cooler conditions meant high acids levels and the length of the season permitted sugar levels to rise. Moreover, the thinner fruit loads and small berries meant the colour and flavour was intensified in each berry. Add in low disease pressure - because of consistent, mild and dry conditions - and the result is one of a stand-out year for quality.
The north-south contrast in the weather conditions that influenced season 2002 is exemplified by the temperature and rainfall records for Griffith and Mildura (north) and Coonawarra (south). A comparison of the two areas illustrates that temperatures in the south were not only lower than in the north (as would be expected) but they were also lower compared to their respective long-run averages. In regard to rainfall - both north and south had above average spring rainfall and the summer months were dry with rainfall well below the long-run average. However, the north and south latitudes differed in the closing stages of the season when the northern latitudes experienced some revival in moisture conditions - with rain that was closer to average in February through to April - while the southern latitudes didn't. Above-average rainfall in February, for Griffith/Mildura occurred in many parts of New South Wales but had little impact on quality due to the dry, clearing conditions that accompanied the rain episodes.
Higher production levels from the warm inland districts created some purchasing pressure in 2002. Not all warm inland reds, which are acknowledged by the industry to be in abundance, were purchased and a lesser requirement for neutral whites from these districts resulted in some of this fruit not being purchased also. On the other hand, specialist white varieties from all districts and reds from outside the warm inland districts were purchased. While the amount of unpurchased fruit is difficult to quantify, around 50 000 tonnes of unpurchased winegrapes has been reported. If correct, this amounts to just over 3% of the national harvest or around 5% of the warm climate harvest - representing around 3 300 hectares of warm inland vines that drew no income in 2002.
Lawrie Stanford
Manager, Information and Analysis, AWBC
