Vintage 2016 looking fabulous!

Katnook Vineyard Manager, Chris Brodie explains, “We have had an ideal lead up to Vintage 2016, with above average temperatures for the early part of the season and the driest spring and summer for many years, maybe on record. Harvest started on February 5th 2016, our earliest vintage yet, with the harvest of pinot meuniere for sparkling wine base, followed closely by the whites.

Red varieties were completely harvested by the end of March. We had occasional, light rain during vintage which helped sustain the vines and fruit quality. There has not been any frost or disease in the lead up to harvest, nor have we had any weather extremes. We’ve enjoyed good leaf quality and fruit growth, as well as near perfect crop load balance. 2016 is shaping up to be an excellent year.

Meanwhile in the winery, Wayne Stehbens says, “ Although our earliest start to vintage on record, indications are that we have above average quality for Katnook white wines. Ripe varietal flavours developed at low sugar levels in the whites, meaning we can expect good varietal distinction at lower alcohol levels in the final wines.

Sparkling wine and all still white wines fermented evenly and were finished by the end of March. The cooler nights and days experienced in early Marchslowed down the maturities of red grapes, which was great for colour and flavour retention.

Early indicators are that we are in for some great 2016 wines in bottle.