Season Overview
The 2026 harvest will be remembered as a three-speed vintage—one that demanded patience, resilience, and ultimately rewarded careful vineyard stewardship with wines of depth and character.
The season began with a cool, slow start, marred by late frosts in some of the low-lying areas of the Barossa. These early challenges kept growers on edge and set a cautious tone for the months ahead. As spring gave way to summer, conditions shifted noticeably, grading into a warmer than average December that encouraged steady vine growth and early fruit development.
January arrived with intensity. A hot spell dominated the first week, with maximum temperatures exceeding 40°C and peaking at 44.7°C on January 8th. This resulted in a mean maximum temperature more than 4°C above average—conditions that tested both vines and vineyard teams alike.
Relief came during the critical early ripening period in February. The Barossa experienced average maximum temperatures and importantly, daily peaks remained below 38°C. This stability allowed vines to recover and ripen more evenly, setting the stage for balanced flavour development.
March brought a welcome shift. Cooler conditions, with maximum temperatures ranging between 18–33°C, combined with above-average rainfall, helped to gently slow ripening. This rain proved particularly beneficial, rebuilding berry moisture levels and supporting the development of richer, rounder fruit profiles, while avoiding the dry, tannic characteristics sometimes associated with hotter vintages.
Ripening & Harvest Conditions
The warmer than average conditions in early summer helped accelerate ripening towards a more normal timeline, alleviating the risks of a late vintage. In contrast, the average February temperatures and relatively cool March slowed the final stages of ripening—preserving natural acidity and encouraging strong colour development in red varieties across the region.
This balance between heat and moderation has been key in shaping the overall quality of the vintage, particularly for reds.
Challenges & Highlights
For Two Sisters, the 2026 harvest has delivered both challenges and moments of real excitement.
The low point was the loss of the Eden Valley Riesling to mould—there will not be a 2026 Two Sisters EV Riesling. While disappointing, this reflects a continued commitment to quality above all else.
In stark contrast, the reds appear exceptional, with enormous depth of colour and a purity and intensity of fruit that, at this early stage, promise an excellent vintage.
Varietal Expression
Grenache has developed beautiful colour, alongside delicious, juicy fruit characters and lingering berry flavours that reflect both the warmth and balance of the season.
The four Shiraz blocks show richness as well as distinctly different fruit characters, shaped by soils, growing conditions, and vine selection. Some of these Shiraz vines were selected from vineyards planted at the very beginning of the Barossa’s wine history, bringing an added sense of heritage and complexity to the wines.
Mourvèdre, the heart of The Fritz, has just completed its alcoholic fermentation and is now undergoing a secondary malolactic fermentation in old oak barrels—an important stage that will build texture and integration over time.
Looking Ahead
While the season delivered its share of unpredictability, the resulting wines reflect a vintage of contrast and character—where careful timing and thoughtful decisions have shaped fruit of remarkable quality.
We look forward to sharing these wines with you over the coming years as they continue to evolve and reveal the full story of the 2026 vintage.
