Half of the yield has been lost from the crop from around the region largely due to frost in October 2009 and the effects of the ongoing drought.

Cowra Regional Vignerons Association secretary Tom Ward said despite the lower yields, there are many positives to be taken from this year’s harvest.

“There are extremely low expectations for volume for this

harvest. We got some frost last October and that impacted on the volume this year,” Mr Ward said.

“Half of the yield has been lost across the region and the effects of the drought have also obviously impacted on the yield as well. Across Australia, yields have been down by about 30 percent.

“On a positive note, quality has been extremely good, in particular chardonnay and shiraz,” he said.

“Most of the white grapes are off and half of the reds are off. The harvest is expected to be complete within the next four weeks.”

Wines from the Cowra and Canowindra region have been getting national attention recently, helped along by a new combined marketing project undertaken by producers. The aim is to increase the profile of the region’s wine varieties to wine aficionados from across Australia. A new website has been launched (http://www.winesofcowra.com) showcasing the best this winemaking region has to offer.

Cowra Regional Vigneron Association president Jason O’Dea said the approach has put Cowra region wines on the map. He says the region’s wines have garnered praise from top food and wine critics including John Fordham.

“We had 12 producers from around the region put up money to market the regions wines in Cowra and Canowindra and those funds were matched by state and regional development,” Mr O’Dea said.

“This has given us around $30,000 to use to hold wine dinners in Sydney and Canberra and to attend wine events.

“The [marketing program] has been going really well. Some of the most influential wine writers in the country are saying good things about us including John Fordham –He is one of the top three writers in the country,” he said.

“Our new website is also getting around 700 hits a month, so there is plenty of good news coming out of the region.”

Canowindra-based vineyard Swinging Bridge Estate has also been officially recognised for its quality wines after their 2008 Swinging Bridge Shiraz received a gold medal at the Royal Sydney Wine Show, which was held earlier this month.