Winemakers tip a top drop

Geographe winemakers are expecting good results from the 2012 vintage despite the devastating hailstorms in November.

Harvesting is well under way inmost areas with some vineyards already finishing up.

Jeff Dewar, manager of Willow Bridge Estate in Dardanup, said a warm, dry summer had been beneficial to growers in the Geographe region.

‘‘The hot weather has brought some of the merlot and shiraz on but all in all it has been nice and dry and quality looks exceptional,’’ he said.

‘‘The hail that came through late last year has had an impact on yield and it’s probably put the quantity of the whites down by about 10 per cent.

‘‘It hasn’t had an impact on quality but it has put the yields down in some of the areas that the hail hit.’’

Bonking Frog owner Julie Hutton said she was happy with how harvesting went a fortnight ago.

‘‘We had damp conditions early on which was difficult for us,’’ she said.

‘‘But a good finish to summer made for a slow ripening period.

‘‘It was our first full vintage since a freak storm hit our vineyard in 2009 and we’re really happy with the standard of fruit.’’

Phil Smith at St Aidan Wines said this year’s reds were ‘‘the best we’ve had in a long time’’.

Jackie Barton, owner of Blackboy Ridge Estate at Donnybrook, said quality and quantity at her estate have both been high.

Ms Barton said this year’s semillon crop was the best they ever had.

AHA viticulture consultant Jim Campbell-Clause said the fruit quality from the 2012 vintage was expected to be high due to the great summer weather the South West had experienced in the past couple of months.

‘‘It’s been a bit of a dream run, we had a bit of rainfall during spring so vines were big, strong and healthy and set up good crops,’’ Mr Campbell-Clause said.

‘‘Through the ripening period it has been warm and dry with no rain so it’s been pretty much ideal ripening conditions.

‘‘Fruit quality is looking really good and yield is up for most growers in the South West.’’