Queensland

The 2020 Queensland vintage

Granite Belt

Granite Belt didn’t have to deal with bushfires or smoke, despite the extreme drought continuing through the growing season. If you didn’t have a bore, buying water via tankers was the only way to provide enough moisture for the vegetative growth necessary to ripen the crop of tiny berries. Fiano and tempranillo did best, as did one winery’s merlot.

South Burnett

South Burnett had some early spring rainfall, but was then dry and warm until well after harvest; like the Granite Belt, bore water was vital for a crop. A low yield, the standouts being viognier, verdelho and tempranillo.