JULIE ASHMEAD - Head of production
This year definitely feels like it is slipping away- seems crazy to think it is September already!
2026 was a challenging vintage, starting out with very dry conditions requiring a careful watch on irrigation to a point at the end of February where we received a decent rain event. Actual rainfall varied a lot throughout the Barossa and Even Valley. We were fortunate to have a small crop load on our vineyards which kept us safe from disease risk and really gave our vineyards a freshen up and some energy to keep ripening their fruit load.
In early August we completed our post vintage tasting with Cam, Al, Conrad and Brock. The tasting included all the parcels we made from V26. This is a crucial moment in time for us as we begin to decide which batches will best suit each final wine we are making. From here we can plan as to when we blend and what is the best maturation plan for these wines. We will soon be blending our 2026 GSM which will be one of the first wines to be bottled from 2026. Once blended this will spend a few months in a tulip (cement tank) ahead of bottling.
We have just bottled our 2026 Riesling from Mengler and Craneford and a Pinot Gris for Small Victories from our grower in Eden Valley, both wines are settling down well now. We are excited to be making a couple of 2026 reds for our Small Victories range. A Shiraz from Greenock and Mengler and a juicy blend of Grenache and Cinsault which will be a great option to be served slightly chilled. We also trialled our Mengler Viognier in a batch of Mengler Shiraz using different fermentation methods work out which method will work best for our fruit and deliver the very subtle benefit that we are looking for, if and when we choose to use it.
The next couple of months will be spent putting these new blends together in addition to looking at our 2025 reds which are ready for a rack and return and potentially pre-blending ahead of their bottling dates which come around quickly.
CONRAD POHLINGER - Viticulturist
With a much touted “mega” el-nino looming in the future we couldn’t be happier with how the past few months have been. With a strong 97mm (so far…) at Nuriootpa, our soils are now topped to the brim with water so are in an excellent position should a drier season eventuate. Seeing creeks flow and dams fill for the first time since 2022 really does bring a sense of excitement and rejuvenation to the landscape, spotting a few turtles wandering around Mengler Hill was not on my bingo card for this year!
Aside from the rainfall, it’s been a warmer than average winter. Leaves were stubborn and held on long after harvest which meant pruning started late but is of huge benefit to vines with them being able to put photosynthates to storage for use in future years. The warm snap in early August pushed the almond blossom and vineyards further south reported seeing a ridiculously early budburst. Our vineyards are a bit further north and the cool weeks that followed put a stop to any silly behavior from the vines.
Aside from the usual winter pruning and maintenance, we have also established a further 500 native plants at Nuriootpa, creating a third strip of native vegetation. The diversity and activity around these areas amazes me every time I walk by. There’s always dozens of species of bugs, predatorial wasps, butterflies, pollinators and small birds drawn to these areas. All of these providing ecosystem services and helping create a healthy environment.
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