HortNews
	Frustrating Year For Wine Industry As Grape Harvest Falls

AUCKLAND 24/06/2003 - The New Zealand wine industry is expecting a frustrating year after a significant drop in the grape harvest.

An estimated 76,400 tonnes of grapes were gathered this season, down 42,300 tonnes or 35 percent on 12 months ago, according to figures released today.

New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan said the low yield was the dominant feature of the latest vintage.

He said the average national yield of just 4.9 tonnes per hectare reflected the cool spring, which caused frost damage to vines and led to reduced fruit set after flowering.

However, some areas escaped these effects and the total crop was above mid-vintage estimates.

Mr Gregan said the low harvest would make for a frustrating 2003 for the industry.

"We had been expecting continuing export growth in the next year, but those expectations will now have to be put on hold," he said.

"Fortunately, there are good supplies of vintage 2002 'Chardonnays' and red wines that will support domestic and export sales."

Mr Gregan pointed out that the reduced harvest would not have a negative impact on wine quality.

"Quality and vintage size are two distinctly different issues," he said.

"In terms of quality, the key periods are summer and autumn, and in those respects 2003 was a normal vintage."

There was the usual autumn mix of fine, warm days and cool, clear nights, "so there should be plenty of vintage highlights for consumers to enjoy".

The regional figures showed this year to be the opposite of last year, with vineyards in Nelson (up 76 percent) and Otago (up 20 percent) being the only ones to record larger harvests.

Last year, Nelson and Otago were the only regions to experience a drop in production.

The regions with the largest fall in yields this time were Hawke's Bay (down 58 percent) and Auckland (down 53 percent).

Meanwhile, Marlborough was again the largest producing region. Its 40,537 tonnes of grapes, while down 26 percent on last year, still accounted for 54 percent of the national total.

Reduced yields affected all varieties, but 'Sauvignon Blanc' grapes were again the most abundant, making up 28,266 tonnes, or 38 percent of the harvest.

'Chardonnay' accounted for 21 percent, while 'Pinot Noir', the leading red variety, was third with 13 percent.

Michael Brajkovich, from Kumeu River Wines in Auckland, said the autumn weather had helped quality after the spring frosts.

"Because the yield was quite low, that enabled us to get some good concentration of flavour and aroma in the grapes," he said.

"So we've made some very good wines, even though the sugar contents weren't necessary high."

Marlborough Grapegrowers Association president Stuart Smith said the vagaries of the weather were part of any farming operation.

"We have had some fantastic harvests and the previous harvest was such a big one that, really, people should have financial reserves built up."