The 2007 vintage conditions continue as a dream run in the South Burnett briefly described by journalist and regular writer about news in Queensland vineyards Des Houghton in the Courier Mail p15 January 20-21.

It is a dry year, about two weeks earlier than average (not a hot year, just an earlier break to the season late last August).

The day temperatures rise barely over 30 oC and the night temperatures drop nicely to 17-20 oC (even down to 12.4 oC last night).

Warm nights seem to be symptomatic of the previous two vintages 2005 and 2006 which produced too many day temperatures over the 30oC level and night temperatures 22-24 oC which deplete grape acidity.

The South Burnett vineyards have had no frost, no snow, no sleet, no twisters, no repeated hail storms, no 40 oC days, but some touches of light hail this 2007 vintage.

Maximum Daily Temperature watch Saturday 20 January 2007 (calibrate your knowledge of South Burnett vineyards!): Moffatdale 31 oC, Jimbour 34 oC, Pokolbin 39 oC, Ballandean 26oC, Stirling-Adelaide Hills 20 oC, Mildura 26 oC (raining at present, 37 oC previous day), Gingin 29oC (Swan WA).

Most wine regions receive rain during part of their vintage-this is not confined to coastal Queensland-the cool areas of Western Australia were deluged during the 2006 vintage, including Margaret River-and consequently many WA cabernets are very poor-some vineyards were not even harvested!

The South Burnett is a quasi-continental region, 350-600 metres elevation west of the Great Dividing Range (in a natural rain shadow) which receives partly-prevailing eastern off shore breezes after 3:00 pm or so (some will know of the blowy Freemantle doctor!), which is the same late afternoon cooling effect during the summer ripening period.