Bursting With Joy Over Even Buds
Newcastle Herald
Tuesday October 10, 2006
A DRY winter, yet warm start to spring has the Hunter's winemakers smiling.
Tyrrell's Vineyard manager Rob Donoghue said the conditions had contributed to an earlier-than-normal budburst, which is when the vines begin to leaf out and grow. Mr Donoghue said this year's budburst was about two weeks' premature, happening early last month."The rain we had a few weeks ago has really helped. The potential crop seems pretty good," he said.Last year's budburst was around the middle of September, but it was a bit patchy because of the dry winter, he said. "Not all of the buds burst at the same time."Mr Donoghue said follow-up rain to last month's downpour would make things even better."More rain will give us more certainty on our crops. We will be sure the fruit will go to harvest with developed berries," he said. "There needs to be enough moisture to make the juice." Draytons Family Wines owner/director John Drayton said chardonnay budbursts were about two weeks early, with the reds about a week early this year. "The rain has certainly helped, it fell at the right time and the crop should be very good," he said. Mr Drayton said early budbursts did not necessarily signal how the rest of the crop would fare. "Quicker budbursts and even budbursts are good, but early doesn't mean good," he said. "But we're pretty excited, especially about the even and full budbursts." Sarah-Kate Scicluna
© 2006 Newcastle Herald