2022 Australia Vintage

La Niña dominated the 2022 Australian vintage, delivering cooler-than-average spring and summer temperatures across most growing regions. Rainfall was the defining variable of the year, swinging between extremes. Parts of Victoria were hit by frosts and heavy winds, while Tasmania and Queensland endured extremely heavy rains. New South Wales faced delayed budburst, flowering, and labor shortages compounded by excessive wet weather. Western Australia stood apart from this pattern, enjoying near-perfect harvest conditions from start to finish.

• La Niña drove cooler temperatures and highly variable rainfall across Australia
• Frosts in Victoria reduced yields; heavy winds in Victoria and South Australia impacted vine development
• New South Wales struggled to achieve phenolic ripeness due to cool, wet conditions
• Western Australia harvested in near-perfect conditions, a clear outlier from the national picture

South Australia emerged as one of the vintage's clearest success stories. Clare Valley recorded no days above 40°C during January and February, enabling gradual sugar accumulation and exceptional acidity retention in Riesling. This marked a return to quality after three difficult years. Eden Valley similarly produced excellent dry Rieslings. In Coonawarra, Cabernet Sauvignon was the standout variety, producing intense, rich, and balanced reds. Tasmania delivered excellent quality despite yields running 13% below 2021 levels. Across South Australian regions generally, quality was consistently high for both red and white varieties.

• Clare Valley and Eden Valley produced the vintage's finest dry Rieslings
• Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon stood out among red varieties nationally
• Tasmania achieved excellent quality, though at 13% lower yields than 2021
• South Australia broadly delivered consistent quality across red and white varieties

Cool growing conditions translated directly into wine character. Gradual sugar accumulation and strong natural acidity define the 2022 vintage, particularly for white wines. Rieslings from Clare and Eden Valleys show pretty aromatics, precise acidity, and excellent structure. Reds from favored regions display intense, rich, and well-balanced flavors without the weight or heat-driven character seen in warmer years. The vintage is rated better than 2021 across many regions, though results are mixed where phenolic ripeness was harder to achieve, notably in parts of New South Wales.

• Whites are defined by strong natural acidity, pretty aromatics, and elegance
• Reds from top regions show intensity and balance rather than heat-driven ripeness
• Rated better than 2021 in many regions, though results vary by zone
• Cool-climate varieties benefited most from the season's temperature profile

Riesling was the standout variety of the 2022 vintage, with Clare Valley and Eden Valley producing wines of particular distinction. Cabernet Sauvignon excelled in Coonawarra. Shiraz, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Grenache, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Mataro were all harvested across Australian regions, with quality depending heavily on location and the degree of rainfall and temperature stress experienced locally.

• Riesling from Clare Valley and Eden Valley is the headline achievement of the vintage
• Cabernet Sauvignon performed strongly in Coonawarra
• Shiraz, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir produced variable results depending on region
• Cool conditions generally favored varieties that benefit from slow, gradual ripening