The other side of the delayed harvest? Hail Damaged Fruit Can Make Good Wine

Hunter Valley grape growers say they never thought they'd start harvesting in February, but there's general relief with pickers in the vineyards.
Points highlights: Harvest is underway after severe flooding and stormsHundreds of pickers harvest grapes in the Hunter ValleyViticulturists expect a quality vintage, despite grape challenges just before harvest.
"This is probably the last start we had that I can remember," said Shaune Flynn, veteran vineyard manager of Agnew Wines, who tended the historic Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard.
"We've had a tough season and we thought we were pretty good at keeping good quality fruit.
" Then all of a sudden Suddenly, we had a hailstorm.
"There was a lot of variation on the damage caused, m But there is between 20 and 50% crop loss at Audrey Wilkinson."
Hundreds of tons of grapes will be harvested this month.(ABC Upper Hunter: Bindi Bryce)
The picking usually picks up speed in early January, but wet weather has persisted in recent months, delaying the harvest.
But Mr Flynn said there could be have an edge.
"Sometimes that hail damaged fruit can actually make good wine because there will be less fruit on the vine, so our flavors maybe more focused.
"Stranger things have happened. It's quite possible they'll make good wine out of it."
Chardonnay grapes harvested at the Marsh Estate. (ABC Upper Hunter: Bindi Bryce)
Country Recognition
Viticulturists established a new tradition this year by launching the harvest with a smoking ceremony and acknowledging the Wonnarua people, the traditional guardians of the Hunter Valley.
"With all the bad events over the years, with COVID, the storms, the s droughts and that, I could see where t hey were coming from,” Uncle Warren Taggart said.
"They just needed a little support through our legacy. "

Agrotech Feb 7, 2023 0 110 Add to Reading List

The other side of the delayed harvest? Hail Damaged Fruit Can Make Good Wine

Hunter Valley grape growers say they never thought they'd start harvesting in February, but there's general relief with pickers in the vineyards.

Points highlights: Harvest is underway after severe flooding and stormsHundreds of pickers harvest grapes in the Hunter ValleyViticulturists expect a quality vintage, despite grape challenges just before harvest.

"This is probably the last start we had that I can remember," said Shaune Flynn, veteran vineyard manager of Agnew Wines, who tended the historic Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard.

"We've had a tough season and we thought we were pretty good at keeping good quality fruit.

" Then all of a sudden Suddenly, we had a hailstorm.

"There was a lot of variation on the damage caused, m But there is between 20 and 50% crop loss at Audrey Wilkinson."

The picking usually picks up speed in early January, but wet weather has persisted in recent months, delaying the harvest.

But Mr Flynn said there could be have an edge.

"Sometimes that hail damaged fruit can actually make good wine because there will be less fruit on the vine, so our flavors maybe more focused.

"Stranger things have happened. It's quite possible they'll make good wine out of it."

A man empties a bucket of grapes into a container.

Country Recognition

Viticulturists established a new tradition this year by launching the harvest with a smoking ceremony and acknowledging the Wonnarua people, the traditional guardians of the Hunter Valley.

"With all the bad events over the years, with COVID, the storms, the s droughts and that, I could see where t hey were coming from,” Uncle Warren Taggart said.

"They just needed a little support through our legacy. "