JOSH WAECHTER’S UPDATE ON THE 2024 VINTAGE

Josh Waechter, General Manager and Winemaker at Oliver & Press Winemakers in McLaren Vale has sent his update on the 2024 vintage:

  • Chardonnay is looking the best that I have seen come off the Kenton Valley Vineyard, it had very even ripening conditions which enabled it to maintain beautiful natural acidity and fresh fruit characters.
  • The wet spring and mild summer resulted in excellent growing conditions, with lots of moisture in the soils to carry them through the growing season.
  • There were challenges: the beginning of growing season in spring 2023 saw stormy unsettled weather which led to variable fruit set and decreased yields across the vineyard, as throughout the Adelaide Hill. Then the March long weekend brought heat conditions which tested the patience a bit. For example, the Pinot for red wine was not yet flavour ripe. However, the vineyard managed to sail through this with no problems and has produced an excellently balanced wine.
  • Josh concludes that the Chardonnay, having been picked before the heat, is really good this year. “It is my pick of the varieties from the vineyard”, he says, and though yields were down “it is delicious”.