Editorial: Raise a glass to four years of grape glory

We are only one-third of the way through this year of 2016, but it is clearly well worth raising a glass and toasting to.

Perhaps a chardonnay or a fine merlot.

Or a plush syrah maybe?

There was little enthusiastic toasting going on back in 2012, though that season was a tad challenging for the creators of fine chardies, merlots, syrahs and any variety for that matter.

Although the skills of the region's winemakers had filled in some of the gaps nature had left.

Then 2013 emerged and there were declarations from many across the winemaking landscape that it was clearly among the best vintages of the past 100 years.

It was as if Mother Nature had stepped up to say sorry from what she had produced the previous year, and decided to unleash a truly wondrous grape-growing season upon the eastern seaboard.

And in the wake of that 2013 vintage, and the accolades, she may well have developed a bit of a taste for the fruits of Hawke's Bay's winelands and decided to pop in another scorchingly great summer, and another superb vintage.

Tastebuds tingling with satisfaction, I think the old girl then decided to make it three in a row and delivered a stunning 2015 spring, summer and autumn which in turn, again, delivered a stunning vintage.

The reputation of Hawke's Bay wines had long been on the rise and those three vintages just underlined everything big time.

And now, with the 2016 pick pretty well wrapped, it is again clear the results are going to be globally applauded and awarded.

Four in a row ... remarkable and absolute gold for the region's economy and reputation.

Winemaker Tim Turvey made the comment this week that it was rare for the farming and viticulture communities to both declare that the season, in the climatic sense, had been a very good one.

The sprinklings of rain from brief time to time were welcomed by both.

They freshened pastures and vines.

And then the air warmed and shone.

On top of the great fruit harvests, the wine vintage becomes the icing on the cake.

Thanks Mother Nature ... 2012 - all is forgiven.