2017 Australian Vintage

Winter and spring rains were life-giving in the Barossa, and the Adelaide Hills had a very wet winter, then average rainfall and low temperatures that pushed harvest four to six weeks later than 2016. Kangaroo Island had its wettest winter ever recorded, with 1100mm. Coonawarra had above average winter rains and a cool season that delayed budburst by up to three weeks, followed by a mild summer. Picking ran from towards the end of March to early May, and a large rain event late in April, with above average yields, meant not all fruit was harvested. In Victoria, the Yarra Valley had good rainfall and cool to mild temperatures into summer. Glenrowan had an early start to vintage, and picking in Beechworth wasn't late.

• Barossa: vintage a month later than 2016, with 2002 often cited as a reference point
• Riverland: heavy (100mm) bursts of rain as late as Boxing Day; four-week harvest delays common
• Henty: 145mm in September broke the all-time record

The 2017 crush was the third consecutive vintage of growth, with tonnes from the cool and temperate regions up 9 percent and the warmer inland regions up 3 percent. Regional yields varied: high yields in the Barossa had to be controlled, Adelaide Plains yields were 30% above normal and Kangaroo Island had a very low yield after poor set at flowering.

• Shiraz up 15 percent, Cabernet Sauvignon up 8, Grenache up 33
• Estimated crush value $1.22 billion, up 13 percent

Halliday's Wine Companion vintage chart singles out different varieties by region. It rated the Barossa's riesling outstanding and its shiraz high quality, and saw potential for one of the truly great vintages in the Adelaide Hills, led by chardonnay and shiraz. It judged the Yarra Valley arguably the best vintage since 1992 and the Grampians the best for at least a decade.

• McLaren Vale: higher ground cabernet sauvignon and grenache of the highest quality, in Halliday's judgment
• Coonawarra: cabernet a standout, in Halliday's judgment
• Mornington Peninsula: some rated chardonnay and pinot gris the best ever, as Halliday records

Coonawarra Vignerons described early reds at lower sugar levels than recent vintages, with excellent colour, and elegant fruit in the medium bodied reds. On the Mornington Peninsula, cool weather gave excellent retention of natural acidity.

• Alpine Valleys and King Valley: acid retention was excellent