Both drought and deluge are playing on the minds and vines of Hunter Valley vignerons in 1997. While heavy rains have virtually removed any hope of a top Upper Hunter vintage, the jury is still out on how the Lower Hunter’s season may wash up, which it could yet do. Down Cessnock and Pokolbin way vintage commenced close to schedule after an abnormally cool and mild pre-Christmas which threatened to delay ripening. Unusually dry December and January weather excited growers’ imaginations before nearly five inches of rain in the last week of January reassured those desperate for moisture, but took the smiles from the faces of those almost ready to harvest. Another hot and dry week followed, improving fruit and encouraging growers, but rains in the second week of February damped spirits again. Semillon was harvested around a standard 10-11 degrees, but time may reveal some dilution of flavour. Chardonnays are leaner and tighter than normal, while it’s still too early to see how region’s ever-changing weather will affect its reds, which will be harvested considerably later than normal.
