Relief for NZ winegrowers: Gisborne contributes to improved 2022 vintage

HAPPY HARVEST: Grapes from this vineyard in Snowsill Road, off the Back Ormond Road, contributed to the country's 11 percent increase in tonnage for the 2022 vintage. The pickers were on the job in February this year. Picture by Paul Rickard

Gisborne contributed significantly to an improved wine vintage across New Zealand in 2022 with a solid lift in tonnage that will help the industry rebuild stocks and sales.

New Zealand Winegrowers said in a statement yesterday that the country's grape growers and wineries have breathed a sigh of relief at how the vintage has turned out.

“We were up 11 percent on overall tonnage this season,” said Gisborne Winegrowers chairman Mark Thompson.

“That was mainly due to increased crop size in this district, which is a reflection of the increasing confidence in the industry.

“I think most growers were happy with how the season went.

“They were able to get the crop in on time, and largely uncompromised,” Mr Thompson said.

The last of the local grapes were picked in early April.

From a production point of view in Gisborne the three main varieties remain chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and pinot gris.

“That makes up 90 percent of our total crop,” he said.

“It was pleasing to see Gisborne produced the third highest tonnage behind Hawke's Bay and Marlborough for the third year running.

“This shows an increased confidence in the region's ability to produce world class wine with plantings over the last few seasons now beginning to bear fruit, literally.”

Mr Thompson, the chief winemaker for GisVin, said the quality of the wine produced from Gisborne grapes was a lot better than anticipated.

“I believe it will turn out to be an average vintage wine quality-wise, but the quantity produced has been outstanding.”

New Zealand Winegrowers CEO Philip Gregan said going into vintage, wineries badly needed a larger harvest as strong demand and smaller than expected crops in recent years had led to a significant shortage of New Zealand wine.

“That shortage has caused total New Zealand wine sales to fall 14 percent from the peak achieved in January 2021, even as wineries supported sales by drawing on stocks which are now at rock-bottom levels,” Mr Gregan said.

In the domestic market, the same shortage has led to sales of New Zealand wine falling to their lowest level since 2004.

“There is no doubt we urgently needed an improved harvest this year after cool weather and frosts impacted vintage 2021.

“The main challenge this year was Covid-19, which greatly complicated harvest logistics, with Omicron rampant throughout New Zealand just as harvest began.

“This created additional pressure at a time many producers were already under pressure due to labour shortages,” he said.

The 2022 harvest produced 532,000 tonnes of grapes, with virtually every region and all principal varieties contributing to the production turnaround from the small crop in 2021.

“The improved harvest is good news for the industry and customers,” Mr Gregan said.

“Producers will be able to rebuild seriously depleted stocks and sales, while customers should get to see retail shelves restocked once more.

“However, rising costs and supply chain disruption remain significant concerns to winemakers as they look to replenish markets.

“We know demand for New Zealand wine is strong as the distinctive flavours, quality, and sustainability of our wines resonate resoundingly with wine enthusiasts around the world,” he said.

“Vintage 2022 is another step towards meeting that demand.”