Vintage 2025 Update

With vintage well and truly underway, we spoke with our winemaking team on their thoughts for this year’s vintage.

Deep Woods

“We started early in the first week of February, it’s been really compressed with varieties including Sémillon Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay ripening at the same time. However, despite a very busy winery, the wines at this stage look fantastic and the early indications are a very high-quality white season. We have now moved on to the Tempranillo and Shiraz-based rosé wines. Rosé is always lots of fun at Deep Woods, we had our annual rosé day and it looks like a season of salmon-coloured dreams. Our reds kicked off this month they are looking great too. Most likely Malbec, Merlot, Shiraz then Cabernet, all looking great at present.” Julian Langworthy, Chief Winemaker.

Millbrook

“What a bumper season at Millbrook vineyard, with both the quality and quantity of grapes. We have picked all of the Viognier and Shiraz, which is looking awesome. The best Shiraz vintage that I can remember for Millbrook. Our Grenache and Petit Verdot has been picked with our Mourvèdre being picked next week. It looks like one of Millbrook’s very best seasons across the board for all varieties. Super excited to try these wines later in the year.” Julian Langworthy, Chief Winemaker.

Evans & Tate

“The perfect moment in time to take a snapshot of this year’s vintage in Margaret River, WA. We have now finished our white grape harvest and are about to commence our red harvest.”

“The only stress factor felt by all local winemakers this vintage has been the intense feeding that native birds have been doing on the grapes. There has been very little red gum or jarrah blossom in the bush this summer which normally distracts these birds as this nectar is their much-preferred food source. Last vintage was fantastic with abundant and well-timed blossom but this year there has been very little blossom with a lot of trees looking like they won’t flower at all. At the end of the day, all we can do is put the nets on to protect the ripening fruit and hope that as many pairs of “Wedgies” (Wedge-Tailed Eagles) soar overhead to spook other birds back into the bush and away from our precious grapes.”

“Quality thus far this vintage? Couldn’t ask for better. Truly. The whites already show similarity to 2023 and 2019 with superb length of flavour and acidity on the higher (but balanced) end with great retention of aromatics. Yields have generally been spot on too, which is a bonus in such a vintage. This vintage has the potential for excellent to extraordinary white wine quality (especially Chardonnay) and allows each of our vineyards to express itself in a more flamboyant and distinctive manner. We already have a number of new and exciting white wine projects organically evolving from the conditions vintage 25 is offering.” Matt Byrne, Senior Winemaker

Smithbrook

“A big shout out to the Smithbrook vineyard team this year, as the fruit harvested so far has been amazing!  The early picked Yilgarn Blanc de Blanc parcels have completed primary fermentation and look very promising.  I’ll keep these on lees for a month or two with regular stirring to build up some texture before we tirage.  The Sauvignon Blanc is midway through fermentation at the moment and is looking incredibly vibrant and abundantly tropical.  We’ve had such amazing growing conditions this year, Pemberton 2025 whites are looking extraordinary!” Ben Rector, Senior Winemaker.

Dalwhinnie

“Despite a dry season, we had a lovely early February rain of 60mm which is super important for a dry grown vineyard. The Chardonnay has been picked and is fermenting in barrel now, looking very smart and we have picked the hill blocks of Shiraz. The fruit looks amazing, and we have really high expectations of this year’s vintage. We expect lovely perfumed medium-bodied wines.” Julian Langworthy, Chief Winemaker.

Tasmania