An anxious eye on the weather

As I write in the opening days of autumn, a potentially great Canberra vintage hangs in the balance – threatened by a massive band of rain moving across south-eastern Australia. If it hangs around too long, mildew and Botrytis could threaten the crop; if too much rain falls, berries might split, increasing disease risks and reducing yields. Should mild, clear weather follow the big wet, however, the district may yet produce some of its best wines ever, several producers say. By the time you read this, we’ll have some idea of the outcome, writes Chris Shanahan in the Sydney Morning Herald.