The Barossa Valley has a steady ripening environment and of 50 vintages perhaps only one will be a wipe-out. The last complete disaster was in 1974. Better vineyard practises and machines that can pick quickly siggests the time between even average vintages has spread. This contrasts with cool climate growers where five in ten vintages can cause difficulty. Even so when to pick Barossa grapes is an individual choice and there is not a whistle blown so everyone agrees today is the day as the grapes are perfect.
As customers are aware Glug favours later picking. It is possible in many vintages to leave the grapes hanging for much longer though you need a customer base to support the sales of these more extreme ripe styles. If you favour lighter more fragrant wines then the Barossa is not for you. You can pick earlier though this leaves unripe flavours and what is the point.
