With Mother Nature throwing everything from way too much rain to difficult to control disease outbreaks, it has come as a relief to the Ballandean viticulture team to pick the last of the 2011 vintage. However, despite the complications, there are already whispers of some hidden gems amongst the vines.
Across the country, grape-growers and winemakers have had a difficult time harvesting their 2011 vintage and it has been no different for veteran vigneron Angelo Puglisi at Ballandean Estate Wines.
“It has been a challenging year to say the least,” said Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi, client relations manager at Ballandean.
“I don’t think I have seen dad work harder in the vineyard than he has had to this year. I am sure the viticulture team will be glad when this year is over!”
But it’s not all doom and gloom for the iconic winery as the initial tastings of the 2011 vintage are already causing a stir among the winemaking team and there is even talk of a “Generation 3”- the winery’s signature red wine coming out of the 2011 crop.
“It is always extra special when, out of adversity, you discover that the vineyard was hiding something amazing and you produce some of your best wines ever,” she said.
“This has happened in other years when hail has destroyed the vineyard and the small amount of fruit left on the vines turns into something magical.”
So the message from Ballandean Estate is that the 2011 vintage may have been troublesome and low yielding, but the true treasures of the vineyard are now being uncovered and you can rest assured that there will be some outstanding wines released from this celebrated Granite Belt producer.
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