RUTHERGLEN wine-makers are set to reap the benefits of the weather gods smiling on them for the 2015 vintage.
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Their best run since about 2009 has produced strong yields and excellent flavours.
Winemakers of Rutherglen chairwoman Wendy Killeen said some “really fabulous table wines” were expected to come out of this latest vintage.
“Overall for Rutherglen, from what everybody has said to me, is that we’re all in the same boat,” she said.
“And that is we’re all feeling very happy.”
Ms Killeen is chief executive of Stanton and Killeen, which, like many Rutherglen winemakers, is bringing harvesting to a close.
“We’ve had a fabulous year,” she said.
“Our fruit quality has been better than we’ve had for some time.
“Considering we were frosted so severely (in 2013) and only picked 10 per cent of our normal 200-tonne crush, we didn’t expect the quantity we’ve got this year.”
That had translated to picking between half and two-thirds of Stanton and Killeen’s normal crush, which was still more than it had expected.
“We’ve got beautiful bunches and the weather has been really kind to us,” she said.
“We managed to ward off the disease by clever spraying.”
Ms Killeen said it had been “sensational”.
“We’ve had the best muscat for years — the flavours, the aromas have been amazing,” she said.
“Andrew Smith from Warrabilla Wines next door has said the same.”
Damien Cofield, from Wahgunyah’s Cofield Wines, said the vintage was “looking quite good”.
He said overall the vintage was well balanced and he was especially happy with the colour of the reds.