YIELDS are down, but Toorak Winery winemaker Robert Bruno believes taste buds will be the real winners of this year’s vintage.
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Vintage in Leeton shire and the wider MIA is drawing to a close after another busy season.
Just this week has time finally slowed for Mr Bruno and his team, but there’s still plenty to do.
”We started in mid-January, which is the earliest we’ve ever started,” he said.
“It’s just been the trend over the last few years. The warmer temperatures, earlier seasons means the grapes have been ripening faster.
“It’s been a dry season and that’s why some of our yields have been down, but that’s been happening across the region.
“We do rely on natural rainfall even though we are on an irrigated system. The quality this year is fantastic though.”
In particular the stand outs this season appear to be the reds, which has a great flavour intensity and colour according to Mr Bruno.
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Toorak employed an extra eight staff members during vintage.
The process now moves on to the making of the wine, with fermenting underway.
Across the MIA growers have been reporting lower yields this season, but Mr Bruno said in the farming game taking the good with the bad was part of the deal.
Toorak this year is also introducing its first pinot noir blend to its award-winning ranks.
“We’re really happy with this season … there’s no doubt it would have been nice to have a little bit more of it, but that’s just something you have to contend with,” the chief winemaker said.
“What we do bottle this year will be pretty good, so we’re happy with that.”