Tasmanian winemakers celebrate a cracking vintage

Tasmanian wine producers are welcoming a trifecta of excellent quality, record wine grape values and an overdue return to strong yields for vintage 2024.

Tasmanians grape growers managed variable and unsettled seasonal conditions to harvest the equivalent of approximately 14.5 million bottles of wine from 16,805 tonnes; up a massive 36% on the 2023 vintage.

Reflecting the island state's focus on value over volume, Tasmanian wine grapes harvested in 2024 set new records, averaging $3,674 per tonne across all varieties and styles (compared with $613 per tonne nationally), with the value of Tasmanian sparkling wine grapes up to $3,797/tonne.

Paul Smart, Wine Tasmania’s viticulture and winemaking officer, welcomed the positive vintage results, saying: "Based on wine grapes harvested across the country's 65 wine regions, Tasmania is the 13th largest by volume but the 5th most valuable, up from 10th most valuable in 2023. 

"After four low-yielding seasons in Tasmania, a return to solid volumes has been very welcome alongside excellent quality and will help Tasmania satisfy the ever-increasing global demand for its wines."

Seasonal conditions varied across the island. 

The north of the state received above average temperatures, while parts of the island’s south experienced cooler than average temperatures. 

It was also very dry in the south-east and drier than normal across the rest of Tasmania. But the seasonal conditions supported good yields and resulted in an earlier and condensed vintage in 2024.

A total of 1,214,000 cases (dozen) of 2024 wine were produced across the board. 

Throughout the season, 46% of Tasmania's vineyard area was managed under Tasmania’s VinØ (vin zero) program, a best practice viticulture and winemaking framework led by Wine Tasmania. 

The full 2024 Tasmanian wine grape vintage report can be accessed at www.winetasmania.com.au/vintage2024.

Burgundy bounces back with bumper 2022 harvest

There is finally some good news for lovers of fine Burgundy.

The 2022 Bourgogne harvest report has been released and “after three years of quality without quantity”, the 2022 yields are reported to be plentiful, making it easier for fans of pinot noir and chardonnay to source their favourite labels.

So a double whammy: high quality wines in big volumes.

Vins de Bourgogne (BIVB) says the vines stood up well despite extreme weather, from frost to heatwaves and drought. Like many areas of Europe the appellation was also short on water.

“The vines were able to make juice from almost no water at all: once the bunches formed, they enjoyed heavy rain in June and a few stormy showers in mid-August to produce abundant, aromatic, and balanced juice,” the report says.

the first grapes for still wines were harvested from August 20 on the Côte de Beaune, inconvenient timing for the national holiday month.

The last bunches were picked from the Côte de Nuits, the Hautes Côtes, and Chablis during the third week of September.

“Almost all the grapes had good sugar levels towards the end so it fell to the acidity content to determine when the grapes needed to be harvested," the report says.

"Yields were high for both white and red grapes, with crates filled with perfect bunches leading certain producers to vinify in whole bunches.

"The 2022 vintage encapsulates what Burgundy does best: generosity and promise!

"After three years of quality without quantity, with yields impacted by weather events, it is certainly welcome, taking some of the pressure off sales and allowing stocks to be built back up."