1955

1955 Consumerism takes off in force with some 7.9 million cars sold in the United States, with 7 out of 10 families now owning a motor car, and new laws are put in place requiring seat belts to be installed on all new cars. The average wage was now $3,851 per year, and the minimum wage was increased to $1.00 per hour. The first McDonalds was erected in 1955 and more and more fast food and TV dinners appeared, including fish fingers. The first ...

In Bordeaux, 1955 began with unstable weather conditions just before summer, but turned into an extremely favorable season by the end of the year. A glorious, sunny and warm, if not hot, period prevailed throughout August and September, until the right amount of much-needed rain arrived. The harvest turned out to be of the highest quality. However, because the vintage was overshadowed by the 1953, it offers value-for-money wines that can still be enjoyed today. Ripe grapes and autumn rains guaranteed an excellent year for Sauternes wines. Wines from this vintage vary greatly in quality, and many are dominated by tannins. Only the best wines, such as Lafleur, Cheval Blanc and Mouton-Rothschild, offer balance and richness.

Australia 1955 VINTAGE REPORT

Growing season rainfall was above average but frosts in late September and early October resulted in crop losses of 10 to 15%. Vintage was warm and dry, providing ideal conditions for ripe grapes and good wines.

In 1955 there were 7,538 hectares of vineyards in Barossa and 28,764 tonnes of wine grapes were crushed in that vintage.

Highlights

A horizontal Vaslin batch press was used for the first time at Orlando. The company also took their new winemaking technology one step further by undertaking the first controlled pressure refrigerated fermentation of red wines on skins.

Kaiser Stuhl installed the Barossa’s first pasteurisation plant in the quest for cleaner wines.

Meanwhile, industry innovation received a significant boost with the formation of The Australian Wine Research Institute in June 1955, with funding coming from the Australian Wine Board. John Fornachon was appointed the first Director of Research.

Grange Hermitage gained its first industry acknowledgement winning gold medals at major Australian wine shows. Penfolds also invests in an early air-conditioned and insulated cellar – for flor sherry production.

Post-war immigrant Rolf Binder Senior followed a New World dream and opened Veritas Wines at Langmeil.

Port Vintage Report: Declared by 26 shippers, this was the largest declaration since 1927, and is one of the most underrated Vintages of the 20th Century. A real pleasure to drink now, the best will last well into the 21st Century if well cellared.