Hawke's Bay Winegrowers chairman Michael Henley said the scorchers in January and February meant the region was trending towards the warmest grape growing season in about five years.
"If the good weather continues, we're going to have a very good vintage with an early harvest."
He said 2013 and 2014 vintages were great while the 2015 vintage was just good, but 2016 looked a strong prospect to top all three.
Mr Henley said this season had been good and an average yield was expected, "not too big or small".
"We don't have very much disease pressure at the moment because bunches are a bit loose, which is different from Marlborough which has a bit of mildew."