Wine barrels are brimming Grapes and wine inject a significant amount into Marlborough’s economy, and Nelson’s to a lesser extent. Lynda Papesch looks at some Top of the South industry facts and figures, and Sophie Preece looks at the transformation of forgotten vineyard corners.
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intage 2019 is coming up fast, riding a tide of success. The value of New Zealand wine exports overall grew to $1.7 billion in the year ended June 30, 2018 – the 23rd consecutive year of growth, according to Wine NZ’s annual report. As a country we have built a reputation for consistent quality; for wine that is approachable, distinctive and noteworthy; and for a comprehensive commitment to sustainability, the report says. Marlborough is still all about sauvignon blanc, by far the nation’s most widely produced (77 percent) and exported variety. The 2018 vineyard register records Marlborough as having 68 percent of the country’s producing vineyards, which equates to 26,007ha. Of New Zealand’s 23,102ha of sauvignon blanc vineyards, a whopping 20,600ha are in Marlborough. Nelson’s total area of vineyards came to 1170ha for the same period. The average vineyard size in Marlborough is 24.2ha and in Nelson-Taman 9.8ha. Nationally the wine sector creates more than 20,000 jobs, and wine tourism is attracting a growing number of high-value visitors
Of New Zealand’s 23,102ha of sauvignon blanc vineyards, a whopping 20,600ha are in Marlborough. 32
to our regions. With wine company numbers continuing to rise, growth in both those areas seems likely to continue. Wine companies in Marlborough have risen from 130 in 2009 to 141 last year. During the same period Nelson wine companies increased by four to 38, although the number of grape-growers in both regions has declined since 2009. Ten years ago Nelson Tasman mustered 57 growers, compared with 35 now. Marlborough’s tally has fallen from 524 to 510.
Average yield improves
Vintage is arguably the busiest time for wineries and while 2018 was down on expectations, the average yield was slightly up at 11.1 tonnes per hectare nationally. Total harvest last year was 419,000 tonnes, which was six percent above the previous year. Of that, 313,038 tonnes was harvested in Marlborough and 9120 tonnes in Nelson Tasman. In both regions, sauvignon blanc is by far the most popular planting. Marlborough’s top four are sauvignon blanc 20,600ha, pinot noir 2659.5ha, pinot gris 1097.7ha and chardonnay 1094.2ha. In Nelson Tasman the figures are sauvignon blanc 612.6ha, pinot noir 213.1ha, pinot gris 132.4ha and chardonnay 105.2ha. Sustainability is an ongoing investment for the industry, and has been widely embraced across the Top of the South, where key wine companies are continuing to implement the award-winning Sustainable Winegrowing NZ (SWNZ) programme.
Photo: Matt Brassington & Leigh Glynn-Finnegan
Wine Industry Update