2003 Australia Vintage

The 2003 season ran from spring 2002 through the autumn 2003 harvest. Drought afflicted much of Australia through the winter of 2002 and the following spring, particularly in the east. High temperatures peaked in November 2002, and warmer inland areas suffered most: in inland Victoria rainfall was 53% below the long-term average. Western Australia had milder weather than South Australia and the eastern states. McLaren Vale had windy weather at flowering and fruitset and the worst drought in more than 100 years. The drought broke with widespread rain on 20 and 21 February, just as harvest began. In some areas tight, drought-constricted grapes split, letting in fungal infection and mildew, while elsewhere split fruit dried and shrivelled, lowering yields. Picking started one to two weeks early in most regions; Coonawarra finished in early May.

• Drought through winter and spring 2002, worst in the east
• Inland Victoria: rainfall 53% below the long-term average
• Rain on 20 and 21 February as harvest began; splitting in some areas
• Picking one to two weeks early in most regions

The smaller crush came from lower drought-affected yields in both cool and warm climate regions, plus cool weather during initial bud formation before the 2002 harvest. Red production fell 46,000 tonnes to 802,000 tonnes, 59% of the total; Shiraz fell 2% to 320,000 tonnes and Cabernet Sauvignon 10% to 233,000 tonnes, while Pinot Noir rose 34% to 29,000 tonnes. Coonawarra yields were about 25% below average, and McLaren Vale yields were down by more than 50% in the worst instances.

• Crush 1.36 million tonnes, down 10% on 2002
• Red grapes 802,000 tonnes; specialist whites 482,000 tonnes
• Semillon down 25%; Sauvignon Blanc down 28%; Riesling up 7%

The Hunter crop came in before the rains, and Rutherglen escaped the rain altogether.

• Hunter Valley picked before the rain; Rutherglen escaped it
• Coastal Yarra Valley and Geelong benefited from the rain's freshening effect

The February rain downgraded quality in some areas, while the smaller berries of a dry harvest promised intensity of flavour and colour. The WFA described the grapes as 'above average' to 'excellent' quality.

• February rain downgraded quality in some areas
• Smaller berries promised intensity of flavour and colour
• Decanter reported that Hunter Shiraz, picked late in the dry weather, was said to be outstanding