Grape harvest set to be down on last year

Grape growers and winemakers association NZ Winegrowers expects the 2003 grape harvest to be smaller than last year's record vintage, but believes it will still be the second largest ever.

Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan said a harvest of 90,000 tonnes of grapes was expected.

"However, assessment of the crop load has been particularly difficult this year given the variable yields in many regions, and as a result this figure may change," he said.

Vintage 2003 will be harvested from a producing grape area of 15,500ha, up 1700ha on 2002.

However, despite the larger producing area, inclement spring weather has reduced the total crop.

Spring frosts in eastern North and South Island areas, along with cool temperatures during flowering in some regions, had combined to lower yields, Gregan said.

"While nationally we expect the harvest to be smaller than 2002, in some areas, notably Nelson and Central Otago, we anticipate production will be above last year's levels. In terms of varieties we expect the biggest impact to be on chardonnay, while production of sauvignon blanc and red varieties will be significantly less affected."

Gregan said weather over the next three months would be critical to the success of the vintage.

"So far the signs for a high-quality vintage are positive, but further warm, dry weather is necessary over coming months."

Harvesting of grapes had already begun in Gisborne, and will continue in some areas until the end of May.

* Wine Marlborough has launched a new logo, a simple three splashes of colour against a white background, which replaces a sunrise over vineyards scene.

Chief executive Michelle Beckett said the new brand provided a dynamic identity for the regional body of Marlborough's wine industry and one that was fitting for the international marketplace.

It had drawn a variety of interpretations from people who thought the splashes of colours were the yellow of chardonnay, green of sauvignon blanc and red of pinot noir, or indicative of the three valleys of the region, or the yellow of sun, green of land and red of grapes, she said.

- NZPA