Aotearoa NZ Fine Wine Estates
Wine Insights
Small and perfect, but what about supply? Vintage 2021 has now been completed in New Zealand, with excellent quality but low yields, writes Natalie Grace, Founder of Perfectly Rieslingable.
Producers across New Zealand completed their vintage in May and what a difference
The specific conditions across three different key regions are explored below.
a year makes. In 2020, the country was thrown into
Marlborough
COVID-19 Alert Level Four just as vintage
New Zealand’s largest winegrowing region
began. After lobbying by New Zealand
experienced slightly early budburst and
Winegrowers, the industry was reclassified
some light frosts through September causing
as an essential business and allowed to
crop reduction and minor bud damage
complete grape harvest and process the fruit
reducing bunch numbers. Some cool nights
under strict conditions and skeleton staff.
during December flowering reduced berry
“All reports indicate the quality of the harvest is exceptional with near perfect levels of concentration, intensity and purity of flavour.” Natalie Grace Founder Perfectly Rieslingable
This year, the pandemic pressure was
numbers and growers experienced berry size
lifted but light crop loads bring a new set
variation within bunches in all varieties. Dry
significantly below the ideal parameters
of challenges as export demand increases
conditions during December to March kept
for Bordeaux varieties. It was a drier than
alongside an already low supply heading into
disease pressure low.
average season, but the moderate summer
vintage 2021. New Zealand Winegrowers
The small yields necessitated an early
meant no excessive vine stress was evident.
has reported seeing supply and demand
start to harvest and most producers had
Harvest weather was reasonably stable and
tension at this very early stage and expects
closed their receival doors by the end of
favourable with reports of a very good to
that many wineries will be facing tough
March. Estimates have the Sauvignon Blanc
exceptional Hawke’s Bay vintage, especially
decisions about who they can supply in their
yield at least 30 per cent down however it’s
for Chardonnay and well-crafted Syrah.
key markets over the next year.
not all doom and gloom - wineries report concentration in the Pinot Noir, great
Central Otago
Low yields, but high quality
balance in the Chardonnay, and intensity
A cold initiation period resulting in smaller
Favourable summer weather throughout
and balance in the Sauvignon Blanc.
bunches and unsettled weather during
most of New Zealand almost guaranteed
flowering saw variable yields between sub-
the quality of the 2021 vintage, however a
Hawke’s Bay
regions. Early to mid-summer was cool and
cool spring, late frosts and poor flowering
Hawke’s Bay had its fourth consecutive
wet but by February the region experienced
contributed to the decreased size of the crop.
warmer-than-average vintage in 2021.
a period of warmer temperatures which
All reports indicate the quality of the harvest
Flowering was five to 10 days early and normal
extended through March. Fruit has been
is exceptional with near perfect levels of
temperatures were experienced until the end
heralded as in excellent condition with great
concentration, intensity and purity of flavour.
of January, but maximum temperatures were
concentration and tannin structure.
22 | National Liquor News
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