2008
2008 was Tasmania's largest vintage to date with a statewide total of 9628 tonnes from 1315 hectares of vines.  However, it should be noted that this still only represents less than 0.5% of the national crush.

This record Tasmanian crop was due in part to new plantings coming on line but also due to yields in the upper range.  Even with these higher yields, clear skies and above average temperatures resulted in the vintage starting one week ahead of normal with ripe fruit showing good flavours.
A significant feature of 2008 throughout southern Australia was a heat wave where temperatures in excess of 40 C were recorded in South Australia for over 10 consecutive days.  This heat hit Tasmania around March 12th and reached a peak on 17th with around 36 C recorded in some vineyards.  In general though, while the mainland sweltered, Tasmania's temperatures were in the 30 to 35 C range accelerating ripeness without undue damage to the vines.

Sparkling -  vintage commenced on the 3rd March with the harvest of chardonnay for the Tamar Ridge sparkling and this was followed a few days later with the first batch of pinot noir.  Fruit composition was ideal for sparkling with good flavour profiles and excellent acids of around 12 g/l.

Whites -  the warm sunny conditions allowed fruit to ripen well and build good flavour intensity while still retaining good acid balance.  As a general rule we were able to pick at lower baume levels to produce more elegant styles with a lower level of alcohol, without any detrimental impact on flavour.  Sauvignon blanc and pinot gris in particular are looking promising.

Reds -  there was considerable variation in picking times across different parts of the vineyard with the first batch of pinot noir for the Devil's Corner label arriving in the winery on the 20th March and the last batch for the Kayena Vineyard Pinot Noir being picked on 18th April.  As with other varieties from the vintage there was excellent flavour development at modest ripeness levels of around 13.5 baume.  The resulting wines are showing considerable promise.

2007
Despite the most severe spring frosts in 30 years, many of the riverside Vineyards in the Tamar Valley have produced yields above average.  Over all locations and varieties, a global average of 8 tonnes per hectare was achieved.  The harvest in the Tamar Valley commenced around the fifth of March, which was 10 days earlier than average but in line with the very warm 2006 year.  The earliness of the start was provoked by an unusual run of days in excess of 30° in mid-to-late February. Pinot noir and chardonnay for sparkling was harvested in very good condition and the fruit has, in most cases shown perfect sparkling numbers with around 10 1/2 baume and 10 to 14 g per litre of acidity.  Next the early aromatic varieties such as pinot gris and gewurztraminer were harvested in the second half of March with very good perfumes and fruit composition.  The gewurztraminer from White Hills was particularly pleasing.  Our main variety, pinot noir, cranked up in the last week of March with the majority picked around the first week of April at ideal figures of 13 to 13 1/2 baume, good flavour and acidity. Subsequently riesling has been picked and was the only variety showing a little botrytis as a result of our only rain incident late in summer (a fall in late February.)  Also on the first of April, we harvested our first ever crop of the Spanish grape albarino, coming in with ideal figures of  around 12.5 baume and 7.5 g per litre of acidity. Harvest of sauvignon blanc started in the last week of March and was completed on the 9th April.  Crop levels for this variety were in fact the heaviest of all varieities for the season but still produced fruit of the highest quality.  The proof of this quality can be born out by the success of the 2007 Kayena Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc winning the trophy for the Best International Sauvignon Blanc at the 2008 Decanter World Wine Awards in the UK.
The autumn was dry, mild and sunny and this once again allowed us to leave a block of riesling fruit on the vines to gain maximum ripeness to make a dessert style.  This fruit was finally harvested on the 9th May with excellent composition of 28 baume, 3.36 pH and 10 g/l TA.

2006
The early season was pretty normal with good fruit set and crop levels very much in line with what we wanted. The summer was dry and sunny but not particularly warm. However, fruit ripened very quickly and we were picking fruit for sparkling wines by early March. Fruit for table wines usually aren’t ready to pick until early April but this year they were ready by mid March and by Easter (14/4) all the picking was virtually over. It was one of the earliest and shortest vintages we have ever experienced. One exception was Riesling fruit for our Botrytis style. Autumn stayed mild and dry so we just left the fruit out there and eventually picked the last of it on 31/5 at a very ripe 25° Bé Outstanding varieties from the vintage  -  most varieties produced quality wines from the vintage.  However, the outstanding wine from the year was undoubtedly botrytis riesling with the wine receiving a number of national and international awards culminating in the Trophy for the Best Dessert Wine at the 2008 Tri-Nations Wine Challenge and a Blue-Gold Medal at the 2008 Sydney International Wine Challenge.

2005
Build up to vintage was almost ideal with fine, mild, sunny weather throughout summer and early autumn. Fruit set was good with a very even crop of small bunches and berries. There was virtually no rain during vintage and fruit was picked in terrific condition with excellent ripeness levels and beautiful natural balance. Fruit intensity of the whites is fantastic and the reds are showing deep intense colour and loads of flavour. Really an outstanding vintage. Outstanding varieties from the vintage - Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir.

2004
Could only be described as a ‘difficult’ vintage. Cool summer weather delayed picking by 2 weeks but fruit showed excellent retention of varietal fruit flavours and great balance. Unfortunately we then got fairly constant rain for 10 to 14 days and ripening the later varieties was a battle. Another year where vineyards carrying crops that were too big for their vines to handle really suffered. Aromatic whites at Tamar Ridge were excellent. Outstanding varieties from the vintage - Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay.

2003
An ‘almost but not quite’ perfect vintage. Summer and early autumn provided almost ideal conditions - fine, mild and dry. Flowering and fruit set were excellent and crop levels were in balance. Two days of solid rain in early April slowed down ripening but dry conditions quickly returned so no real damage was done. However, the season had turned and daytime temperatures were cooler with the result that fruit picked later in vintage did not reach the ripeness levels we wanted. Overall the wines were leaner and more elegant that the big ripe styles of 2002. Outstanding varieties from the vintage - Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay.

2002
One of the warmest and driest vintages in northern Tasmania for many years. Some wet and windy conditions during flowering had led to quite poor fruit set so vines were carrying a small crop. Conditions then turned hot and dry resulting in very small berries and low bunch weight. White wines tended to be riper, fuller and more alcoholic than normal but the reds were outstanding with great depth of colour and fruit intensity. Outstanding varieties from the vintage - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay.

2001
On the cooler side and with a bit of rain. Those vineyards carrying too big a crop struggled to ripen fruit. Good vineyard practices allowed us to harvest sound quality fruit with good levels of ripeness. Wines were a little lighter in style but with good fruit intensity. Outstanding varieties from the vintage - Riesling.

2000
A long, mild sunny vintage that remained dry throughout and produced wines with full, ripe fruit characters and great balance and structure. Acknowledged as one of Tasmania’s best Pinot Noir vintages. Outstanding varieties from the vintage - Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon.

1999
Quite a cool year with intermittent rain through the first half of vintage. The latter half of vintage was mild and dry. Produced wines that were crisp and delicate. Outstanding varieties from the vintage - Riesling.

1998
A warm sunny year with a particularly long, mild autumn. This allowed us to leave later ripening varieties on the vine to achieve optimum ripeness. Outstanding varieties from the vintage - Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc.

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