By STEVE GRAY
GRANITE Belt winemakers are watching the sky in the hope of some rain to get the 2014 vintage off to a good start.
Summer rain is often the determinant of the quality of Granite Belt wines.
“The 2013 vintage was wet, so it did prove difficult,” said winemaker Tony Comino.
This grape-growing season is still threatened by frost, with a light frost touching the Kominos vineyard at Severnlea last Friday. More cold snaps may be on the way.
“The full moon at the end of October is always a difficult time,” Mr Comino said.
“We’ll wait and see. It’s probably going to be a good crop, but we just have to get through this frost period before we make any judgements there.”
Mr Comino said he had noticed in his 29 years in the Granite Belt wine industry that a dry start to the growing season often meant a wet finish as the grapes matured. Likewise a wet start to the season could mean a dry harvest time.
“We love to have a wet start and then usually the rain isn’t sustainable for the whole five or six months, that’s what we like to see.”
The 2013 crop was a mixed bag.
“The sauvignon blancs came off early so they’re quite crisp and clean, Mr Comino said.
“Some of the shiraz we had to pick early. We left some that went later and got into a dry period and they’ve got some nice full-flavoured characters.
“We’ve got some wines that are over 15 per cent and some that were picked at 12, so we’re just doing up the blends there.
Mr Comino said the winery was releasing its 2012 vintage.
“They’ve got some excellent characters, and that was a different season again, that was more standard.”
Mr Comino said the Southern Oscillation Index had been climbing, raising chances of rain in coming weeks.
“If we can get some rain happening, that’d be good.”
