1981 Australia

A challenging year for most Australian producers. Drought conditions prevailed in South Australia and in the Barossa Valley the harvest was very early. Yields were low and the fruit was of uneven quality. Coonawarra escaped the worst of the drought and had a marginally better year.

In Western Australia poor weather disrupted the flowering in Margaret River, although the weather was mainly good for the remainder of the growing season. However, all wines should have been drunk by now.