Sometimes it’s better to fall short of perfection
It's only human to aspire for perfection, which conversely is too much to expect of nature. Whilst the months leading to harvest sometime in March next year follow a well-worn path, many twists and turns are yet to unfold. Vagaries in the weather through the growing and ripening seasons leave subtle yet indelible impressions of the character of the resulting wines. Reminding us that the pursuit of perfection is ultimately futile, and that achieving it year on year would be ironically boring. Because falling just shy of absolute perfection as we often do consequently leaves each vintage to tell its own story of time and place. And that is what makes the art of wine truly fascinating.
Hence we take what we're given, thankful this winemakers’ paradise rarely fails us. What happens between now and harvest shapes quality and character, with my role one of mere steward. "How's the vintage shaping up" might become the most asked question in the upcoming months, but even the most experienced winemakers hesitate from offering anything more than loose affirmation that things are 'looking good.' Final judgement comes many years into the future once the wines are bottled and then released. Even then, the conversation around the relative qualities of one vintage over another continue - often for decades, and in our fine wine world, remarkably across generations!
The outlook for the 2026 harvest looks promising. Late winter and spring rains have been a welcome change after a few very dry years. Sub soil moisture levels are being restored and canopies look very healthy. Mild conditions through Spring will push flowering to the end of November, and veraison to later in January. These are all good early indications of a harvest spanning late March and into early April. At this time, conditions are generally milder which slows ripening and enables the fruit to develop more intense and complex flavour.
At this early stage, I sense 2026 will yield some very good Barossa Valley wine….at least that’s the game plan, but time (and nature) will have the final say!