Tonnage down but not quality

LOOKING GOOD: The overall grape harvest in Gisborne was down eight percent on last year this season due to the cooler spring weather and cooler conditions during flowering. But the quality is right up there. File picture

THE 2016 New Zealand grape harvest finished 34 percent up on the 2015 vintage yield-wise, but in Gisborne the 15,944 tonnes harvested was down 8 percent on the previous year.

A total 436,000 tonnes of grapes was harvested around New Zealand this year with Marlborough the biggest producer by far.

The 8 percent drop in the tonnage of grapes harvested in Gisborne was due to the cooler weather last spring and over the flowering period.

“It had an effect on some varieties here and that affected the tonnage more than anything else,” said Gisborne Winegrowers Society president Al Knight.

“But there is no doubt the quality of the crop picked here is at expectations — if not above. We will have a clearer picture of the quality of the vintage here in another 3-4 months,” Mr Knight said.

“But certainly at this stage it all looks very positive.”

A welcome boostThe result nationally would be a welcome boost for markets, growers and wineries, said New Zealand Winegrowers CEO Philip Gregan.

“The 2016 harvest is up 34 percent on the small 2015 crop but is still below the record-breaking 2014 vintage.

“Producers benefitted from excellent summer and early autumn weather in grape-growing regions, enabling full ripening and flavour development,” he said.

“In the past year we have seen continued strong demand in our key export markets, which exacerbated supply constraints following the small 2015 harvest.”

Mr Gregan said with good weather through the summer, expectations for the quality of the vintage were high.

New Zealand wine exports are now valued at $1.56 billion, up 13 percent in the past year.

“The rebound in production from the 2016 vintage will be another boost to the export ambitions of our sector,” he said.

“The 2016 vintage will definitely keep us on track to achieve our goal of $2 billion of wine exports by 2020.”