Production at Manjimup
Brachetto (clone H102) vines showed moderate establishment in trials at Manjimup, producing medium-sized canopies with thin shoots. Brachetto usually produces medium to large bunches of thin-skinned grapes.
In comparison with other red varieties, Brachetto grapes achieve sugar accumulation early, although the fruit has a low anthocyanin content, producing the characteristic ‘strawberry’ coloured wines.
Timing of key phenology stages
| Budburst (E-L 4) | Full bloom (E-L 23) | Veraison (E-L 35) | Harvest (E-L 38) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-September | Early-mid December | Early February | Mid-late March |
Production characteristics
| Productivity | Medium-high | Berry weight | Medium |
| Bunch weight | Medium-high | Fruit yield/vine | 5.5 kg |
| Disease susceptibility | Medium-high | Equivalent yield/ha | 9.2t |
| Bunch compaction | Medium-high | Vigour | Medium |
| Juice TSS (°Brix) | 24.8 | Juice Baumé | 13.8 |
| Juice pH | 3.1 | Juice TA g/L | 9.6 |
Wine sensory assessment
Brachetto grapes and wine are intensely perfumed with muscat, strawberry, rose and spicy aromas and flavours. Wines are light in colour even after fermentation on skins.
A consumer survey showed that 58 per cent of respondents liked the aroma, 79 per cent liked the flavour, 58 per cent liked the body, 55 per cent liked the style and 57 per cent found the variety to have commercial potential.
Wine judging results for Brachetto
| 2010 Australian Alternative Variety Wine Show | 2010 Qantas Wine Show | 2011 Timber Towns Wine Show |
|---|---|---|
| 14.2 | 14.2 | 15.0 |