Vinpro Technical Harvest Report 2026

Climatic and viticultural trends

Following the cold winter, spring temperatures were approximately 1–2 °C higher than normal. The elevated temperatures, coupled with drier soils, resulted in the first vineyard blocks reaching bud break approximately one to two weeks earlier than usual. Initial shoot growth was good due to the higher temperatures and warmer soils. Despite the earlier bud break, no frost damage was recorded. Overall, vegetative growth was less vigorous than in the previous year. Vine water demand was 20–30% higher than normal, primarily due to drier soils and higher temperatures, which led to constrained growth as producers were not consistently able to keep pace with irrigation requirements. Weather conditions during flowering were warm and dry. Flowering occurred one to two weeks earlier than normal, and fruit set was good and uniform due to favourable conditions. Véraison was also approximately one to two weeks earlier and more uniform than normal. The first vineyard blocks reached ripeness seven to ten days earlier than usual, although the timing of ripening normalised after the completion of the first two weeks of harvest. The unexpected delay in ripening can be attributed to cooler conditions in January and February. The harvest sequence was typical, except for Cabernet Sauvignon, which ripened earlier than Shiraz. This trend has been observed in the region over the past few seasons.

Following the 2025 harvest, vineyard leaves remained on the vines longer than normal due to low rainfall and healthy canopies during the growing

season. Rainfall from November 2024 to the end of February 2025 was 40% below the long term average; however, producers had access to irrigation water during this critical period, and good reserve accumulation as well as effective uptake of post-harvest fertilisation was therefore expected. Robertson experienced a colder and wetter early winter, with above-average rainfall and very low temperatures in June and July. While rainfall for this period was 40% higher than the long-term average, only 5 mm of precipitation was recorded in August. Winter temperatures were lower than the long-term average, with some weather stations recording average minimum temperatures up to 3 °C lower than the norm. The accumulation of chill units was therefore sufficient for dormancy release, and no dormancy-breaking agents were required. The extremely low rainfall in August (4 mm) and September (2 mm) resulted in soil profiles not being adequately replenished. Sufficient irrigation water remained available from schemes, although some producers reliant on runoff did not have adequate water for irrigation.

Monthly rainfall (Jun 2025–Feb 2026)

120

100

80

60

40

Rainfall (mm)

20

0

Jun-25

Jul-25 Aug-25 Sept-25

Oct-25 Nov-25

Dec-25 Jan-26 Feb-26

Rainfall (mm)

Long-term average rainfall (mm)

Figure ROB 1. Monthly rainfall in Robertson from June 2025 to February 2026.

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