Cyclone Joyce
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 2:08 am
.... is currently depositing a truckload of rain (70+mm) on Perth and environs. The effects will be felt to a lesser degree further down the west coast.
I know grape growers and vignerons in the Swan Valley who were going to pick some whites TODAY. Is there a race to get the little green nuggets off now? Or risk having the vines (many are older vines) go "thank you very much and sluurrpp"?
Unfortunately, this reminds me of 11 months ago (early Feb 2017) when the Swan River flooded on the back of 114mm of rain further up river. One or more Swan Valley wineries lost their entire crop, while some only lost their 'river flat' blocks - one place lost all of their Shiraz when ski paddlers and canoes went over the vines without realising what was beneath them. The vines were totally under water by nearly a metre.
Surely nature can't be cruel to an already undervalued wine region two years in a row?
I'd be interested to hear opinions, especially from those affected.
Allan
I know grape growers and vignerons in the Swan Valley who were going to pick some whites TODAY. Is there a race to get the little green nuggets off now? Or risk having the vines (many are older vines) go "thank you very much and sluurrpp"?
Unfortunately, this reminds me of 11 months ago (early Feb 2017) when the Swan River flooded on the back of 114mm of rain further up river. One or more Swan Valley wineries lost their entire crop, while some only lost their 'river flat' blocks - one place lost all of their Shiraz when ski paddlers and canoes went over the vines without realising what was beneath them. The vines were totally under water by nearly a metre.
Surely nature can't be cruel to an already undervalued wine region two years in a row?
I'd be interested to hear opinions, especially from those affected.
Allan
