2024 BAGO VINTAGE

Welcome to Bago Maze and Wine, where every glass tells a story. Our winery is a hidden gem nestled in the heart of the Mid North Coast region, 30 minutes from Port Macquarie and just 4 hours from Sydney.

Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned wine enthusiast, there's something special waiting for you here at Bago.

We produce a range of sparkling, varietal and fortified wines and are always trialling new varieties that are suitable to the region's climate.

Verdelho, Chardonnay, Savagnin, Chambourcin, Norton and Tannat. 

Let’s start with a recap from 2023 Vintage

We are happy to say this was one of our best years. The wet and humid weather that normally hits us right in the middle of our grape ripening phase was delayed last year which allowed the grapes (especially our reds) a chance to ripen to their full extent, resulting in a fuller flavour and boldness in the wines.

Chambourcin was certainly the standout. 

2023 also saw Steven Mobbs, the youngest son of Jim and Kay Mobbs take charge of Bago’s wine development and tweak the styles of our wines a little. A notable change is the creation of an off-dry Savagnin, a sweet start with a dry finish.

Steven will continue to direct Bago’s wine production into the future. From our bold Chambourcin to the innovative off-dry Savagnin, each sip tells a tale of passion and dedication. 

A new year of 2024 embraced by the elements

So far the 2024 vintage has proven to be more challenging than last year. A dry start to spring and earlier summer led to a lack of natural food in the bush for our native birds and this meant the grapes were on their menu. Because of this we needed to apply our protective nets earlier than usual and subsequently have had to remove and reapply as the vines were rapidly growing through. 

Bird netting is our least favourite job of the year and we were less than enthusiastic during this stage. High humidity has also affected the grapes, meaning we had to bring forward the picking of our Savagnin and Chardonnay to save the crops.

As these grapes didn’t achieve their full ripeness, they will be used mostly for sparkling wine which is traditionally made from grapes with lower sugar content. We however smile with joy as our Verdelho has come up trumps this year with twice the yield of 2023. 

Being a crowd favourite, our Verdelho usually sells out each year before we can get more in the bottles but hopefully with this extra yield it will last the year out.

Next week we will start picking our reds, Chambourcin for Rose’ will be the first followed by Chambourcin for table wine, then usually Tannat and finally Norton, the latest ripening variety we have.

Life of a Grape Grower at Bago

At Bago, we see a grape grower as being more than just a job, it's a way of life for us and an exciting journey to say the least. We start each vintage season with a grape picking plan. Then we plan for the plan to change and then we throw the plan out the window and just react to what’s happening.  There’s no plan when it comes to nature, you just have to go with the flow and keep up!

We keep a close eye on everything. We check the weather and the condition of the fruit every day and test the grapes for ripeness every week. We often don’t know we are picking until the day before and then it’s a mad rush to get the nets off, slash the grass, organise pickers and co-ordinate transport. 

Our first picking days are fun! Our team gets to know each other, we all learn how to call for a bucket in 3 different languages and it’s smiles all round. Then over the next few picks, we start to endure the rain, or get sunburnt, or stung by wasps, or cut our fingers and our mentality shifts to “let’s just get this done”.

We find ourselves understanding why those French backpackers who only picked for two days wanted to move on to Byron Bay, and we often wish that we followed. Despite the challenges it is indeed satisfying to see a trailer load of fruit bins full to the brim leaving for the winery and even more so when those grapes turn into a delicious wine, saluting the year we just had and contemplating the next…

Passion and dedication continues

As we gear up for the red grape harvest, our team is ready to tackle whatever comes our way, with a smile on our faces and a love for what we do. Because at the end of the day, bringing joy to families, friends, and locals is what it's all about.