2009 Australia Vintage

Few vintages in the 25 years prior to 2009 were greeted with as much pessimism at the outset. Record heat, fierce winds, and catastrophic bushfires across Victoria set the tone for a year that tested every winemaker in the country. Australia's mean annual temperature sat 0.90°C above the 1961-1990 baseline, making it the second warmest year on record since 1910. The conditions meant that any wine of quality that emerged from 2009 was hard-earned.

• Second warmest year in Australian recorded history since 1910
• Drought stress compounded the impact of extreme heat events
• Record high temperatures were especially pronounced in the southeast during the second half of the year
• Few prior vintages in a quarter-century were met with equal concern

The defining weather event of the vintage arrived in late January and early February, when Adelaide experienced six consecutive days above 40°C. The extreme heat caused significant damage to red grape varieties, with Cabernet Sauvignon suffering most acutely. Compounding matters, the Black Saturday bushfires swept through Victoria, introducing smoke taint as a serious concern. Many winemakers encountered smoke taint for the first time, adding a layer of difficulty that extended well into winemaking decisions.

• Six consecutive days above 40°C in Adelaide during late January and early February
• Cabernet Sauvignon sustained the greatest damage from the heatwave among red varieties
• Black Saturday bushfires introduced widespread smoke taint concerns in Victoria
• Smoke taint was a first-time experience for many producers in affected regions

The vintage was far from uniform across Australia. Cooler regions proved the most resilient. Clare Valley and Eden Valley Rieslings emerged as potentially the finest since 2002. Western Australia had a late, cool, and mild season, delivering wines of restraint and suppleness, with strong Chardonnays and Rieslings leading the way. Margaret River Semillons also performed well. In South Australia, Shiraz consistently outperformed Cabernet Sauvignon. Barossa Valley producers who managed yields and picked carefully found workable fruit.

• Clare Valley and Eden Valley Rieslings among the best since 2002
• Western Australia produced excellent Chardonnays and Rieslings from a cool, late season
• Margaret River Semillons were a regional highlight
• Shiraz outperformed Cabernet Sauvignon throughout South Australia

The timing of the extreme heat created an uneven playing field between white and red varieties. White grapes harvested early, before the worst heat arrived, fared considerably better than those caught in the heatwave. Red varieties, which require more hang time, were more exposed to the damaging conditions. The overall harvest of approximately 1.63 million tonnes reflected the pressure the season placed on yields across the country.

• Early-picked white varieties avoided the worst of the heat and produced cleaner fruit
• Red varieties, needing longer hang time, bore the brunt of the extreme temperatures
• Total harvest of 1.63 million tonnes was 11% below the 2008 crop
• Yields ran 20% below the long-term average nationally