PYRENEES  GRAPEGROWERS & WINEMAKERS VINTAGE REPORT 2011

The Pyrenees Region 2010-2011 season was one of, if not the, wettest season for many years. The district received good rains over a mild winter which provided excellent conditions leading into budburst. A late start to the season, (generally two to three weeks late at every stage) and mild conditions produced some excellent canopies, with vineyards looking the best for many years. Heavy rains over flowering caused a number of downy mildew infections, and continued wet weather through to Christmas required vigilance in the vineyard. Some yield decreases were by now evident, and further rains in January exacerbated any problems. Many growers maintained good spray coverage and were rewarded with healthy crops.

The continued mild weather provided excellent conditions for sparkling fruit and white varieties, with harvest dates back to the ‘norm’ of the 1990’s. Slow ripening conditions for reds produced flavour ripeness at lower sugar levels than have been seen recently, or 13 Be’ is the new 14Be’. Excellent parcels of shiraz and cabernet sauvignon were harvested throughout the district, and many growers happy to see the fruit off and in the winery.

This has presented many challenges for the winemakers as well as some good opportunities. They needed to remain vigilant to mitigate the effects of laccase in must, juices and wines and also ensure that the nutritional requirements of their ferments were adequate, particularly from vineyards that experienced disease pressure which may have depleted essential elements such as nitrogen.

Early reports indicate that sparkling based wines and white wines are looking very good across all varieties and that some flavoursome & elegant red wines have been made from vineyards where yields & disease were well managed.

PGW winemaking sub-committee.