On The Grapevine: South Australia
23 February 2026, AU: As the 2026 vintage unfolds across South Australia, conditions are varying by region, with common themes of delayed ripening, heat impacts and ongoing cost pressures. Below is a region by region snapshot from Elders viticulture specialists, highlighting seasonal conditions, crop progress and key challenges facing growers.
The Riverland
Nicole Pitman, Elders Agronomist, Barmera
The Riverland is experiencing one of its lowest levels of powdery mildew infection in many years. Favourable weather conditions from a disease perspective have significantly reduced rejection rates this season.
Prolonged hot weather over the past few months however, has had a noticeable impact on ripening and has increased vine water requirements. Growers with sufficient water allocations have been able to irrigate in line with seasonal demand, but hot, dry conditions have driven increased demand for leased water, with prices currently around $440 per megalitre.
The region recorded an extreme temperature of 49.6°C on 27 January, highlighting the intensity of the season.
Harvest is well underway, with Chardonnay largely completed and early red varieties now being picked. Overall, yields are estimated to be down by approximately 20 per cent.
Have you heard? The Riverland Viti Tech Group has also participated in collaborative trial work with SARDI focusing on powdery mildew resistance. Samples were collected earlier in the season, with results expected later in the year. This represents one of the largest powdery mildew sample sets delivered to SARDI, and the outcomes will be of significant interest to the industry.
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