Why wine 'smoke taint' concerns could be a thing of the past

​A wine grower in Tasmania's Huon Valley says he has found a way to remove smoke from tainted grapes and not lose a vintage.

In January last year, Hartzview Vineyard in Gardner's Bay experienced heavy bushfire smoke, which rose and spread throughout the property, which sits 250 metres above sea level.

Owner Bob Patterson said it was an unusual sight.

"The smoke was very intense and lingered up here for several days," Mr Patterson said.

"It was a good two to three months before we would pick our grapes. We tried to remain optimistic and hoped the smoke [on the grapes] would be washed away in future rains."

Key points:

  • In 2019, Hartzview Vineyard in Gardner's Bay experienced heavy bushfire smoke, which rose and spread throughout the property
  • Sample results from a local wine testing facility revealed high levels of smoke taint in the grapes
  • Winemaker Bob Patterson decided to pick the grapes and experiment with wine-making and distillation skills, with surprising results
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