South Australia’s wine industry has kicked off one of its earliest harvests on record, following a tough year marked by drought, extreme heat, and frost. Some of the state’s major wine regions have already begun picking grapes, starting a month or more earlier than usual, raising hopes for high-quality wines despite expected lower yields.
Cooltong grower Jack Papageorgiou, who has been in the industry for over 50 years, noted this is the earliest he has started harvesting grapes. “I’ve picked as early as the end of January in past years, but never as early as January 20th,” he said. Papageorgiou attributed the early harvest to a mild winter and warmer spring, which accelerated crop growth, a trend also observed with cherries.
Riverland Wine Grapegrowers chair Ashley Ratcliff confirmed that the second week of January marked an exceptionally early start for the region’s harvest. While unsure of the exact cause, Ratcliff pointed out that some small wineries have already begun harvesting sparkling wine, a critical early step in the process. “Given the heat, anything picked now is a bonus,” Ratcliff said. He also mentioned that growers who were not affected by frost have seen reasonable crop yields.
However, frost damage caused by a series of frosts in September, particularly in the Riverland, Barossa, and Clare valleys, has taken a toll on fruit yields. Ratcliff explained that growers are struggling with low yields and difficulties in meeting tonnage estimates due to frost-related damage. Financial challenges are compounded by poor pricing for some red wine varieties.
On a positive note, many winemakers have reported encouraging quality from the fruit that has been harvested. “Feedback from both large and small winemakers has been really positive, so the 2025 vintage looks promising,” Ratcliff said.
The dry conditions of 2024 have also presented challenges. In Clare Valley, Jim Barry Wines general manager Tom Barry said their vintage is the earliest since 2016. Increased irrigation has been necessary due to the dry conditions, which has brought the crops on faster than usual. “It’s been a challenging year, but our vineyards are looking really good considering the circumstances,” Barry stated.
In the Barossa Valley, fifth-generation grape grower Tammy Schultz expects an early harvest, though yields will be lower due to frost damage and the dry growing season. Despite these challenges, Schultz is optimistic about the quality of the harvest, particularly for the renowned Barossa reds. “Traditionally, dry years produce high-quality fruit if managed well,” Schultz noted.
In the state’s South East, which includes the Coonawarra and Padthaway wine regions, viticulturalist Sarah Bird predicts a more typical vintage start. While yields are expected to be down, Bird highlighted that the lower yield could benefit the industry in light of the current oversupply. However, the dry conditions mean more irrigation is required to maintain healthy canopies in the vineyards.
Despite the challenges posed by the climate and weather events, South Australia’s wine industry remains hopeful that the 2025 vintage will deliver exceptional quality wines, even with lower crop yields.
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