Summary
A copy book vintage which avoided the highs and lows of temperature and rainfall extremes. A very cool, moist 2001 growing season assured good budburst and a long Indian summer of moderate daytime temperatures and cool nights led to gradual, even ripening. A warmer than average autumn led to optimal colour and flavour intensity – a great finish. An excellent year for Barossa Valley Shiraz, Cabernet and Grenache, and Eden Valley whites and reds were elegant, exhibiting some floral characteristics due to cool weather.
In 2002 there were 9,740 hectares of vineyards in Barossa and 66,029 tonnes of wine grapes were crushed in that vintage.
Highlights
South Australian Premier Rob Kerin opened the new Barossa Valley Estate Winery in Seppeltsfield. Local shareholders were delighted to see their business return to its spiritual home after 17 years of operation at the Angle Vale winery outside the Barossa GI boundaries.
Orlando’s new Jacobs Creek Visitor Centre was officially opened as annual sales of Jacobs Creek reached 12 million bottles and Chief Winemaker, Philip Laffer, was named Australia’s Winemaker of the Year.
The Yalumba Wine Company hosted the inaugural Viognier Symposium which attracted more than 270 delegates from all over the world including South Africa, America, England, New Zealand and France.
Barossa Infrastructure Limited’s irrigation scheme was completed providing supplementary water to approximately 240 growers-shareholders.
John Duval retired as Chief Red Winemaker at Penfolds and long-term Penfolds winemaker Peter Gago took over the reins – and the enviable task of assembling Australia’s most famous wine, Penfolds Grange.
At the 2002 International Wine and Spirit Competition in London, Wolf Blass Winery scooped the major trophies winning Best Winemaker in the World, Best Shiraz/Syrah in the World and Best Australian Red Wine for its 1998 Platinum Label Shiraz.
Honourboard
Vigneron of the Year – Trevor Keil
Winemaker of the Year – Kevin Hoskin
Sources
SA Wine Grape Crush Survey, Vinehealth Australia and ‘Barossa Vintages: a wine history from 1842’, Peter Fuller
