Vintage Update – 18 March 2026
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Where are we sitting?
In the last update, vintage was tracking around 30-40% complete, with slower Baume development and rain disrupting early-week operations.
These themes continue into the current reporting window, but feedback can now provide a clearer picture of post‑rain recovery, intake progression and yield outcomes based on another fortnight of active harvest.
Vintage Progress (member insights - reporting period 01-14 March)
- Approximately 60% of Riverland intake programs now complete, with some producers reporting to be closer to halfway and others sitting in their third quarter of total expected Riverland intake.
- White varieties are largely finished and wineries have begun red intake, though still in the early phase for many.
- A noticeable slowdown followed the rain event at the start of March, however, operations have since stabilised.
- Across 6 contributors working with Riverland fruit (each varying in scale and processing location), an approximate crush of 140-150k tonnes has been reported as of the end this period.
Vintage Pace
- The period has been slower than expected.
- Baumes showed a slow progression toward a steady increase after the initial stall due to extreme heat followed by further delays due to the rainfall event.
- Ripening tracking at the expected rate now observed among the red intake.
Varieties Delivered So Far:
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Whites (Mostly completed)
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Colombard
Muscat varieties
Glera
Pinot Gris
Semillon
Fiano
Chenin Blanc
Riesling
White Frontignac
Vermentino
Other whites (Arinto, Picpoul, Albarinho, Macabeu)
Reds (Commencing or early stages)
Shiraz
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Grenache
Mataro
Early red parcels for rosé (mostly completed)
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Yields
- The directional trend of below preseason expectations from the previous update remains firmly in place.
- 10-30% below estimates across most intakes.
- Lower bunch weights and smaller berries widely reported.
- Irrigation has been observed as a major factor, blocks with higher volumes of water applied closer to estimates and water‑limited sites seeing a greater difference between estimates and delivered tonnes.
- Feedback of yields sitting on-target for selected varieties.
Weather & Conditions – What Members Are Watching
Weather: 01-14 March
- After the approx. 50-100mm (with some heavier pockets) we saw across the 2 days earlier in the piece, there was no more rainfall to follow during this reporting period.
- Daily average temperatures sat around 20°C, maximum averages of 27°C, and overnight lows averaging around 13°C, with temperatures cooling in the latter half of the period and low temps sitting closer between 10-11°C nightly.
- Outlook:
Rain and cloudy conditions as we've entered into the current period (15-28 March), forecasts say this will be followed by a shift to dry, sunny weather later this week bringing warmer high 20°C - low 30°C days. Conditions are predicted to maintain this mild pattern as we approach the next period🐰(29 March-11 April).
Conditions
- Minor-moderate operational impacts, depending on vineyard location and winery intake requirements.
- 1-2 days of cancelled picks, some producers pausing for up to a week.
- Processing mostly stabilising quickly, continuing the collaborative pattern noted previously.
- Pressures remain low to moderate overall, consistent with a mild Spring and the hot, dry lead in to March.
- Berry damage observed in bunches in some pockets, reasonable vigilance continues for remaining varieties, dependent on susceptibility, block history, evolving weather patterns and forecast precipitation into the following (current) period.
- Some loads have been rejected, although, the incidence of this has been lower than anticipated when first attempting to predict the outcomes of the recent weather impacts, immediately after the event.
- Coordination to balance sugar accumulation, flavour/acid retention and ideal access timing to ensure dry canopies and bunches for smooth harvesting and quality parcels.
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Thank you to everyone continuing to share observations on what's happening on the ground. Your updates help the whole community stay in the loop.
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Fruit Fly Certification
Please ensure all required Fruit Fly certification is in place before scheduling and accompanying documentation is ready to go before fruit leaves the vineyard. This supports smooth movement across the region and into the winery.
NHVR Safety Requirements
A reminder to all growers, contractors, and transport operators to stay up‑to‑date with NHVR safety obligations - including Ag vehicles on the road and knowing where to look for changes in regulations as you travel through different zones, securing loads and preventing grape spills, fatigue management, mass management, vehicle conditions and safe access around trucks and loading areas.
Safety is a shared responsibility, and your diligence keeps everyone moving safely through vintage.
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