The 2025 Schubert Estate vintage is complete, and we are extremely happy. This will be an exceptional year for Schubert Estate wine.
Harvest commenced on February 6 with picking of our small block of Viognier in the Roennfeldt Road vineyard. The individual Shiraz blocks were picked across a 3 - week period from 18 February to 12 March – the decision to harvest determined by a row-by-row assessment of each block to ascertain optimal flavour development and fruit ripeness. Warmer winter temperatures last year, which persisted throughout the growing season, resulted in one of the earliest harvests on record. Most Barossa winemakers will happily report they enjoyed their first complete Easter break in many decades.
Fruit condition throughout the ripening period preceding harvest was excellent in all blocks. This delivered full expression of the rich and concentrated flavours that are typical of our Marananga sub-region, with excellent natural acidity retention. Berry size was smaller than average producing wines that are deeply pigmented and highly structured. All wines are looking fantastic at this point, and the 2025 Vintage may well become one of the greatest ‘odd’ year wines for not only Schubert Estate/ Hares Chase, but the Barossa as a whole.
Perhaps the most critical factor driving these exceptional results from our vineyards was the decision to invest in the installation of a system of dams on our property in 2023. The Barossa Valley has experienced an extended period of very low rainfall, receiving less than 50% of the long term average in 2024. Since January 1, the region has recorded less than 20mm of rain. Being able to access water as required from the dams to supplement rainfall events proved pivotal to maintaining healthy canopies and good vine health throughout the growing and ripening seasons, and produce an outstanding quality crop of small berried fruit.
