To Another Great Year in 2001,” noted Waipara winemaking consultant, Theo Coles. “There’s been rot, botrytis and slipskin due to weeks of soft soaking rain which just wasn’t washing off, even on the gravel sites.” “Overall, volumes will be down, but there will be some brilliant wines made from the early harvest,” commented Geoff Shier, chair of Waipara Valley NZ. “It really has been a season of two halves.”
had been less prevalent in previous years. Then conditions were noticeably milder, with sporadic rain and overcast weather. It was as though we’d had summer in spring and spring in summer. Conditions were nevertheless dry, as they often are in Central. Flowering was early and fruit set was strong in most places. Some inclement weather pre-bunch closure posed possible threats later in the season, but despite the ten-
15.-17.03.2015 Düsseldorf, Germany International Trade Fair Wines and Spirits In the later ripening areas across Canterbury, the rain that set in from early April resulted in some growers losing entire vineyards of ruined fruit. “We have lost 95% or our crop from the rains in the lead up to Easter,” reported Gill Walsh administrator of Wines of Canterbury and owner of Blackhouse wines. “Unfortunately our fruit wasn’t in a position to be harvested early and we are not alone.” “Our Pinot Noir is a write off,” stated Gary Dennison of Point Bush in the far south at Waimate. “Pinot Gris and Sauvignon are both struggling for enough temperature to ripen to bubbly, let alone still wine. My prediction would be a write off year.”
CENTRAL OTAGO Max Marriott The growing season in Central Otago started off with a hiss and a roar, along with a return of the spring equinox winds which
dency for some tight bunches and heavier crops, the fruit at harvest was clean and flavoursome. Quiet initial forays turned into fast and furious harvesting with fine, hot days at the beginning of the 2014 vintage. The season was early, but not as early as initially expected. With excellent lignification, many found that the fruit was physiologically ripe at sugars below typical. This follows on from the same trend in 2013. Crops were slightly above average, but the early season leant itself to greater fruit loading. Conditions during harvest were excellent and at time of writing – the 1st week in May – the last blocks in Gibbston Valley were coming off (frosts at the end of April effectively ended the season) and the only other fruit hanging out for late harvest. All in Central are quietly confident of another great season and thankful that we escaped the tumultuous weather experienced in other South Island regions. ■
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