Oenophiles rejoice! Rain holds off for another great Orange vintage

There have been plenty of anxious moments for local vignerons over the past few weeks as they watched the deluge of rain hitting the Australian east coast. 

But with the weather locally staying largely dry and picking of the 2022 vintage now well underway, this year is looking like being one of the great years for Orange wines.

“It has been very nerve-racking. I'm sick of looking at (weather sites) Elders, BOM, Weatherzone — and I'm still looking at it!” said James Robson, owner of Ross Hill Wines.

The cool, wet growing season presented plenty of challenges for local vineyard managers, but those have been manageable, he said. But the flooding rainfall, such as that which has hit the east coast, would have been devastating.

“It is unbelievable, it dried out and we didn't get that rain the coast got, which would have been really damaging,” said James.

Ross Hill has brought in fruit from their lower vineyards, although some of the red varieties and the vines planted at higher altitudes are still some weeks away. But, if the weather continues to hold, 2022 could well be one of the great vintages for Orange, James believes.

“We are not there yet, but what we've brought in so far, is spectacular,” he said. “In particular, the chardonnay and some very good Sauvignon Blanc and there’s some pinot from a lower vineyard which looks unreal!

“When Orange comes good… and we are not there yet, but we are starting to feel more confident and — if we get there — it will be one of the great Orange vintages. I think it will be one of those classic chardonnay-cabernet vintages for Orange, that's my feel.”

While growers always hope for a vintage with good yields and great fruit, the effect of the bushfire smoke that saw little — if any —  wine produced here in 2020 is still being felt by producers.

“It’s normal with vintages to get vintage variation and it has not been a great deal, but because 2020 put so much pressure on supply — and then 2021 was good, but small — we need a vintage to rebuild,” said James.

“And I think, hopefully, that this will be it! Because what's in the shed is terrific and what's still sitting on the vines looks great.”