2008 Australia Vintage

The 2008 season was one of contrasts. South Eastern Australia had generally good conditions, while excessive rain fell on the east coast in January and February, particularly in the Hunter and Mudgee. Coonawarra had early spring rains after a dry winter, which brought excellent budburst. The Barossa had a dry growing season and mild summer. Towards the end of ripening, a heatwave lasting two weeks hit some South Australian regions, with the Barossa recording a record long March heatwave of 15 consecutive days over 35 C. The heat's epicentre was around Adelaide (Clare, Barossa, McLaren Vale), and it extended into Victoria and New South Wales. It quickly raised the baume levels of later-ripening varieties nationally, but because harvest began very early, only 15% to 20% of the total national crop remained on the vine. In McLaren Vale, picking started in the first week of February and the bulk was in by the end of March, against a normal finish at the end of April. In the Hunter Valley and Mudgee, vineyards were deluged ahead of picking, rot took hold and yields dropped up to 85% in places.

The WFA assessed quality as broadly good to excellent in most regions, with some very high quality outcomes. The crush was estimated at 1.83 million tonnes, up almost 31% on the drought-affected 2007 vintage and above the five-year average of 1.71 million tonnes, and any heatwave loss of national tonnages was put at just 2% to 4%. Shiraz rose 53% to 436,000 tonnes, behind Chardonnay at 444,000 tonnes. The Riverina delivered a record harvest on more than adequate water allocations.

Shiraz largely ripened before the heat, while later-ripening varieties were more exposed. In the Barossa, those who picked early in February made some of the best Shiraz of the decade, the Barossa Grape and Wine Association reported. In Coonawarra, most reds were picked between late March and early April, with Cabernet Sauvignon yields slightly below average. Decanter found inconsistent quality but some fine examples, called Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon outstanding, and noted classic herby, cedar and violet flavours in Margaret River Cabernet, finesse in Yarra Valley Pinot Noir, and Barossa Pinot Noir grapes that beat the heatwave.

In McLaren Vale, all white varieties were picked before the March heatwave, with strong varietal character and crisp acidity. Coonawarra whites benefited from cool February temperatures, with the majority harvested before the March heat. The WFA survey found that Tasmania and the majority of Western Australian regions had their best vintages in years. Expectations for sparkling wine are high, with fruit from cooler districts in Tasmania and regions such as the Yarra Valley more favoured by the season.