GRAPE SEASON PROMISING

A mild winter, warm spring and sunny December got the grape crop off to a great start. With vines packed with fruit, growers predict a substantial and early harvest, reports Wines From Martinborough.

“Like holidays-makers, grapes generally prefer warm sunny weather at this time of year. But patchy cooler weather with wind and rain since Christmas has slowed growth only slightly, with winemakers reporting they are very happy just now,” says co-ordinator Sue McLeary.

Winemaker Paul Mason (Martinborough Vineyards) says the vines are “nicely balanced”. He says the district’s flagship pinot noir grapes have “a good even berry size” and the rain “kept the vines ticking over nicely”.
Overall, he describes the season as “promising, although there’s a long way to go yet”. Larry McKenna (Escarpment Wines) agrees.

“Pinot noir veraison (when the grapes change colour as they ripen) is starting and nets are going on a week or two earlier than usual. Vines respond best to rainfall and we got the right amount between flowering and veraison.

“An early season, with temperatures below 30°, allows flavours to develop better so we are very happy. We seem to be entering a more normal warm, dry weather pattern which would be ideal,” he says.
Palliser Estate’s Richard Riddiford comments that “it’s clear to see there is a large crop, and this is the pattern around the whole country. Many grape-growers are thinning fruit, and the quality is looking very good”.
The 2013 vintage was described as “producing some of the best wines we have seen for 10-15 years” after a perfect growing season.

The 2014 season may not be perfect, but it’s favourable and winemakers are quietly confident of a fine vintage. As always, they temper their outlook with cautions about weather patterns before harvesting starts, in mid-late March.
Sue McLeary
Photo Caption: Refreshed by rainfall, these pinot noir grapes on Ata Rangi’s Walnut Ridge vineyard show the ripening process in action as they gradually change colour.