A very long vintage kicks off in Tasmania

Tasmania is a small island with a number of different microclimates.

The 2026 wine vintage harvesting began this week - but may not finish until June.

That means wine grape picking across the island could stretch over four months.

The grape harvest kicked off this week with the initial picking of grapes designed as sparkling wine material.

Wine Tasmania’s Viticulture & Winemaking Officer Paul Smart said the 2025-26 growing season has been anything but predictable.

“It’s been a rather unusual season here in Tasmania," Smart said.

"A very cool spring was followed by a mild summer and little rainfall, which means conditions have been dry, and grapes have ripened more slowly than usual.”

Smart confirmed harvesting activity likely to continue through to late May and potentially June for later styles and varieties like shiraz in the cooler south of the state.

“A slower season like this can be a good thing when it comes to flavour development in our wines," Smart said.

"While yields are expected to be down around 30% compared with last year’s record high production, we’re anticipating excellent quality and plenty of fruit intensity.

“Tasmania's unique climate never gets truly hot. We are an island located a long way south, and our latitude and the surrounding water leads to long seasons and intense flavours in our wines.”

With vineyards entering the most sensitive period of the season, Wine Tasmania is also reminding landholders to work with nearby vineyards if and when planning burn-offs.

“Vineyards are particularly susceptible to smoke exposure at this time of year," Smart said.

"We’re simply asking people to have a quick proactive conversation with nearby vineyards before lighting a fire. Sometimes there may be limited risk based on weather conditions and the stage of harvest. Sometimes a short postponement may be all that’s needed to avoid potential damage.”

Wine Tasmania continues to work closely with the Tasmania Fire Service, Sustainable Timber Tasmania and the Parks & Wildlife Service to balance community safety with protecting vineyards.