2019 King Valley Vintage Report: Pinot Grigio & Prosecco

As we prepare to release our next vintage of Pinot Grigio and Prosecco, it feels like the perfect time to look back at the 2019 King Valley vintage—a fast, warm and ultimately rewarding growing season.

For us, 2019 was a vintage defined by healthy vineyards, rapid ripening and expressive fruit, with the warm conditions giving our Pinot Grigio a little more richness and roundness than usual.

A Boutique Vintage from Victoria’s King Valley

The King Valley is one of Australia’s premium cool-climate wine regions, yet it represents less than 1% of the country’s total wine production.

According to Wine Australia’s 2019 National Vintage Report, the region crushed 14,637 tonnes of grapes. Our own production accounted for just 25.6 tonnes of Pinot Grigio and Prosecco—around 0.17% of the King Valley’s total crush.

That puts our wines firmly in boutique territory, with vineyard selection and fruit quality playing a major role in the final wines.

A New Vineyard for Pinot Grigio & Prosecco

In 2019, we were excited to welcome Chrismont Vineyards as a new grower for our King Valley Pinot Grigio and Prosecco.

Demand for these wines has continued to grow across Australia and Asia, so increasing our access to quality fruit was an important step in supporting our customers.

Located at around 300 metres altitude, the vineyard benefits from a unique microclimate and the wide diurnal range we look for when sourcing fruit for premium Pinot Grigio and Prosecco: warm days above 25°C followed by cool nights below 10°C.

The vineyard sits on red clay over broken granite, with both young and established vines. The result is bright, aromatic fruit with a pleasing mineral character.

What Was the 2019 King Valley Growing Season Like?

The season began strongly, with plenty of beneficial winter rain leaving the King Valley green and lush as budburst arrived.

Good airflow through the vineyard also helped reduce the risk of damaging spring frosts. As the season progressed, temperatures increased significantly. While the King Valley avoided the extreme 40°C-plus heatwaves experienced in parts of South Australia, regular temperatures in the high 30s still put pressure on the vines.

Fortunately, strong winter and spring rainfall, combined with timely irrigation, helped maintain healthy and productive canopies.

The warm, dry conditions also reduced concerns around vineyard disease and rot. Instead, our focus shifted to ripening speed. Grapes can reach full sugar maturity quickly in a warm vintage, potentially before flavour development has caught up.

A Fast and Intense Harvest

By January and February, it was clear that harvest was approaching quickly.

Normally, our Prosecco is picked around two weeks before our Pinot Grigio. In 2019, the gap narrowed dramatically.

• Prosecco harvested: 28 February 2019

• Pinot Grigio harvested: 5 March 2019

• Time between harvests: just 5 days

It was a fast and intense vintage.

The fruit arriving at the winery was in excellent condition: healthy, disease-free, fully ripe and packed with generous flavours. That gave us a strong foundation for the winemaking process.

How Did the Warm Vintage Affect Our Pinot Grigio?

The biggest challenge was the speed at which the Pinot Grigio ripened.

Our typical house style leans towards light, crisp, and refreshing Pinot Grigio. The warmer 2019 conditions produced something slightly different: a wine with a plusher texture, greater roundness and higher alcohol.

And that's the beauty of vintage variation.

Every growing season leaves its fingerprint on a wine. The 2019 King Valley vintage reminded us that even when we work carefully to maintain our house style, nature ultimately has the final say.

For Pinot Grigio and Prosecco lovers, that's part of what makes wine so interesting.

2019 was warm, quick, and expressive; and we were very happy with the fruit that came out of the King Valley.

FAQs

Was 2019 a good vintage in the King Valley?

Yes. Healthy fruit, good ripeness and generous flavours made 2019 a strong vintage, although the warm conditions accelerated ripening.

When was the 2019 King Valley Prosecco harvested?

The Prosecco was harvested on 28 February 2019.

When was the 2019 King Valley Pinot Grigio harvested?

The Pinot Grigio was harvested on 5 March 2019, only five days after the Prosecco.

How did the warm 2019 vintage affect Pinot Grigio?

The warmer conditions resulted in a Pinot Grigio that was plusher, rounder and higher in alcohol, rather than the lighter, crisper style normally associated with the house profile.

Why is the King Valley good for Pinot Grigio and Prosecco?

Its cool-climate conditions, altitude, and wide diurnal range- warm days and cool nights- can help produce aromatic, bright fruit with freshness and mineral character.

What was the 2019 King Valley vintage like?

The 2019 King Valley vintage was warm, dry and fast, producing healthy, fully ripe and flavourful grapes. Prosecco was harvested on 28 February, followed by Pinot Grigio on 5 March. The warm conditions gave the Pinot Grigio a rounder, fuller style with higher alcohol than the usual light and crisp house profile.