Barossa farmers have always been tuned to the turning of the seasons, and the modern Barossa grape grower and winemaker continues to keep a watchful eye on the short and long-term forecast, including temperature, sunshine, rainfall, humidity and wind, as these all impact on the quality of the grapes grown and so the quality of the wines made.

MORE RESOURCES

Barossa Valley vs Eden Valley Comparison
Barossa Vintage Reports
Barossa Maps & Resources

Source: Weatherzone – weatherzone.com.au

Spring(September – November)

  • Sunny days with mild temperatures.
  • Average temperature range: daytime 17C-24C; nights 6C-10C
  • Mean number of rainy days: 18
  • In early spring, budburst throughout vineyards moving out of winter dormancy.
  • In late spring, vines are fast growing, with bright green leaves and tendrils.
  • Fruit trees covered in blossoms of pink, white and red.
  • Canola flowering provides a carpet of yellow in paddocks.

  • Sunshine and warm to hot days.
  • Average temperature range: daytime 26C-29C (with frequent hot days of 30C-36C); nights 12C-14C
  • Mean number of rainy days: 8
  • Vines have a dense canopy of dark green protecting bunches of ripening grapes.
  • The paddocks change from green to golden, as cereal crops mature. Grain harvest generally takes place before Christmas.
  • Orchards boast abundant stone fruits ripening.
  • Grape harvest begins in February, with grapes being predominately hand-picked, tractors and trucks transporting to wineries and fermentations commencing.

  • Mild and sunny, with evenings becoming colder.
  • Average temperature range: daytime 17C-26C (with heat spikes); nights 7C-12C
  • Mean number of rainy days: 14
  • The grape harvest continues well into April, with grapes intended for fortified wines still on the vine until May.
  • Fermentation of wines continues.
  • Orchards yield autumn favourites in abundance (quinces, figs, apples and pears).
  • Field mushrooms popping up in paddocks throughout the region.
  • With the first cold snap, generally in late April, leaves begin to turn to gold across the Barossa, the long awaited first rains fall and a green tinge appears across the Barossa ranges.

  • Cool days, cold nights with much of the annual rainfall occurring in these months.
  • Average temperature range: daytime 12C-16C; nights 3C-6C
  • Mean number of rainy days: 29
  • Dormant vineyards have lost their leaves for the winter, and are being pruned.
  • Ripe olives are harvested for oil or pickling.
  • Paddocks sown, with cereal crops emerging as bright green.

BAROSSA CLIMATE

The majority of the world’s wine-producing regions are found between the temperate latitudes of 30° and 50° in each hemisphere, and Barossa is no exception, sitting at approximately 34° South of the Equator.

Described as a Mediterranean climate, Barossa typically experiences cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers, which is ideal for grapegrowing. The winter months (June – August) bring cold days, some rain and cold nights. From September through to February there are plenty of sunny days, which encourage the vines to grow and allow the grapes to ripen fully and develop a balance between levels of acid and sugars in the grape. Rainfall during this period is usually quite low, which means that supplementary irrigation is sometimes used. The autumn months during harvest (March – May) are usually mild but sunny with cool nights.

Temperatures vary from warm on the valley floor to progressively cooler at the higher altitudes of the Eden Valley, and together with the hills and valleys within, produce a wide range of meso-climates.

BAROSSA VALLEY

Warm and dry, with low relative humidity and rainfall in the growing season. With long daily sunshine hours, the viticultural temperature average is only slightly warmer than that of Bordeaux (France) and the Margaret River (Western Australia). Harvest generally runs from mid-February to late April.

The Barossa Valley is typified by gentle rolling hills and valleys. Plenty of sunshine on the deeper valley soils promote healthy vine growth, but excess vigour is often restricted by shallow soil and a lack of water holding capacity. The main viticultural hazard for the Barossa Valley is drought.

EDEN VALLEY

Altitude is all-important in determining the meso climate (or local climate), although aspect and slope are also important in the varied, hilly terrain. Thus the vineyards at an altitude of about 500 metres or above are noticeably cooler than the vineyards located at about 380 – 400 metres above sea level. Overall the growing season temperatures are significantly lower than those of the Barossa Valley, and the final stages of ripening (and harvesting) take place in much cooler conditions.

Eden Valley is also considered a temperate ‘Mediterranean’ climate, but compared to the Barossa Valley, its higher altitude results in wetter, cooler weather and daytime temperatures being 2 – 3°C cooler than the Barossa Valley floor. On clear nights, Eden Valley can be 5 – 7°C cooler than the Barossa Valley floor, which slows ripening, enhances cool climate flavours and ensures greater retention of natural acidity. The main viticultural hazard for the Eden Valley is autumn rain and frosts.