1996 Australia Vintage

Most of the Australian continent had a late vintage that began after an unusually cool summer, which held back ripening and harvest. Most regions escaped the early onset of cooler, wetter autumn weather, but winter arrived early in several cooler southeastern regions, especially the Yarra Valley and the Mornington Peninsula. In the Barossa Valley the climate was warm early, then mild, and vintage started in mid-February. Rainfall in 1995/96 was average. Grant Burge, Chairman of the Barossa Winemakers' Association, described it as "an exceptional vintage in both quantity and quality, with yields up on average by 15%".

• Early winter in the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula
• Barossa Valley: average 1995/96 rainfall; vintage began in mid-February
• Yield: record national crush of 885,000 tonnes

The Winemakers' Federation of Australia announced an all-time record crush of 885,000 tonnes, of which 496,000 tonnes were premium varietal grapes and Chardonnay alone accounted for 107,000 tonnes. The previous record was 777,000 tonnes in 1994. South Australia's estimated crush was 425,000 tonnes, roughly half the national figure.

• 496,000 tonnes of premium varietal grapes; Chardonnay 107,000 tonnes

Decanter named the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and the warmer regions of western and central Victoria as the standouts, and found that the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale produced long-living and balanced wines. Decanter rated the Pyrenees, Grampians and Great Western as exceptional if late seasons, and Coonawarra as one of its best cabernet vintages in a decade of generally good seasons, while finding conditions on the opposite side of the continent generally too cool for top-drawer red wines.

• Coonawarra: one of its best cabernet vintages in a decade
• Hunter Valley: ripe flavours and some richness in its shiraz
• Mudgee had its best season for some years

Decanter found the wines typically more elegant than usual, with fully ripened vineyards giving density and fineness. Barossa reds showed excellent colour, especially Cabernet Sauvignon, in Winetitles' Barossa report. Decanter called the Penfolds release exceptional, from the Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon to the Koonunga Hill, and also picked Orlando Jacaranda Ridge, Parker Terra Rossa First Growth and Best's Thomson Family Shiraz.

• Penfolds: an exceptional release, Bin 707 to Koonunga Hill