The 2024 New South Wales vintage
During the 2024 New South Wales vintage, the Hunter Valley had a dry winter/spring. The Southern Highlands had plenty of winter rain, and while the Riverina had a dry winter, late spring and early summer rains saw average yields for white varieties.
Hunter Valley
The Hunter Valley had a dry winter/spring; rainfall was 100mm below the long-term average. The low rainfall and mild conditions resulted in early budburst and a need for irrigation. A (very) warm spell in September impacted flowering and hence bunch size, semillon especially affected. Overall quality is good despite low yields; semillon and shiraz will be the picks, but need time to reveal their true pedigree.
Mudgee
Mudgee received very low winter and spring rainfall leading into a very early harvest with dry and mild conditions. No disease pressure resulted in moderate to high yields of high-quality grapes, the standouts chardonnay and shiraz.
Orange
Orange had below average winter/spring rainfall, the weather up to and including harvest both warm and dry, which lead to an equal of 2016’s earliest start to vintage on record. Most varieties produced average yields – though cabernet was down about 30 per cent – and show great promise, the money on riesling, chardonnay, pinot noir and shiraz.
Southern Highlands
The Southern Highlands had ample winter rain, then a warm spring encouraging rapid ripening and an early harvest. The standout varieties are riesling, chardonnay, albariño and pinot noir, from what one winemaker claims is the ‘best vintage we have seen since 2019’.
Canberra District
After adequate winter rainfall, the Canberra District started its growing season as one of the hottest and driest, with above-average temperatures, until 20mm rain fell in early October. Severe October frosts hit many vineyards, with an estimated loss of one-third of the region’s grapes. Rain, storms, and some hail continued until early February, making it one of the wettest vintages on record. Despite this, vineyards that were scrupulously tended have harvested low quantities of high-quality grapes; riesling, chardonnay and shiraz are the standouts.
Hilltops
Hilltops had a vintage of challenges similar to Canberra: late frost, storms and hail. A warm, dry spring then brought the earliest start to vintage on record, with variable yields, but overall high quality. Standout varieties are shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, fiano, pinot gris and prosecco.
Tumbarumba
Tumbarumba continued the trend of an early and compressed vintage, and early fears of potential fungal disease were assuaged by a dry, warm end to the growing season. Although some growers hit by frost early in the season were not so lucky, varieties across the board are of high quality, chardonnay and pinot noir looking especially promising.
Shoalhaven Coast
Average rainfall through spring, and a very early budburst in Shoalhaven Coast brought harvest forward, starting at the end of January, with everything done and dusted by early March. Overall quality is high, with semillon, savagnin and tannat the ones to watch out for.
Riverina
Following a dry winter in the Riverina, late spring and early summer rains prompted average yields for white varieties (though with some disease pressure), and slightly lower than average yields for the reds. Harvest here was completed by mid-March. Chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, viognier, shiraz and durif were the varieties to perform best.
Discover more regional insights from the 2024 Australian vintage with the Halliday Vintage Chart.
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This is an edited extract from the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion, with reviews by James Halliday, Campbell Mattinson, Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Marcus Ellis, Mike Bennie, Philip Rich, Shanteh Wale and Toni Paterson MW. Cover art by Vera Babida.
Top image credit: Mount Pleasant.
