Bay escapes worst of Pam but rain warning timely

Misty hills, farmland and trees in Wairoa

Forewarned has been forearmed for Hawke's Bay grapegrowers as the rain coming with Cyclone Pam threatened to disrupt another good harvesting season.

Hawke's Bay Winegrowers executive officer James Medina said the region seemed to have "dodged a bullet" with the storm appearing to have been not as severe as at one stage forecast.

However, the rain was expected and there was "a flurry of activity" late last week as vineyards picked white varieties ahead of the rain and where they were close to ripening.

The chairman, Michael Henley, who is also chief executive of Gimblett Gravels operation Trinity Hill, said where necessary growers picked some grapes early, mainly white varieties such as sauvignon blanc, but they were prepared to await dry conditions predicted for the bulk of the harvest ahead through next month.

"We were able to pull some fruit before the rain," he said. "The rain at this time is never ideal, but the ground is so dry that it's probably going to have a minimal impact."

He said the season has been "very good" with the potential of being as good as or better than the recent good years, if the dry weather continues through the harvest season in April.

Mission Estate winemaker Paul Mooney, who's been in the viticulture industry in Hawke's Bay for more than 30 years, said some growers would have "taken a lot of fruit off" ahead of the rain, where it was close to maturity.

"We did a short day's pick on Thursday in anticipation of the rain," he said.

Chris Wilcock, of Ash Ridge, said the vineyard had picked its sauvignon blanc and was waiting for the drier weather for the rest of the harvest.

"We're really sitting here with crossed fingers," he said. "We've taken the risk and left it out. Hopefully it pays off."