Winegrowers optimistic big crop will be of good quality

This year's sauvignon blanc crop was five per cent larger than last year's. Photo / Wikimedia Commons image from user Nathan

Winegrowers say their 2009 vintage of 285,000 tonnes is expected to produce good wine quality because of the favourable weather in March and April.

The harvest was marginally higher than forecasts for a crop of 275,000 tonnes, but on a par with last season.

The production area in 2009 was estimated to have been 31,000ha, up 2000ha on 2008.

New Zealand Winegrowers' chief executive Philip Gregan said the industry had worked hard in the past year to keep volumes at last year's levels to maintain quality.

"We enjoyed a very good growing season this year. Some early humidity and weather pressure in February was replaced by a superb March and April," he said.

"Our growers and wineries were able to pick the grapes at optimal ripeness."

The record 2008 vintage drove export growth of 28 per cent, meaning exports of $1 billion would be reached this year, a year earlier than forecast.

But Mr Gregan said despite the strong growth in exports, there had been downward pressure on prices from the global recession.

Nationally, this year's sauvignon blanc crop was 5 per cent larger than 2008, driven by a 10 per cent increase in plantings, but wineries and grape growers reduced the grapes harvested to lift quality and to avoid another unexpectedly large vintage as happened in 2008.

The Marlborough harvest fell one per cent because of lower volumes of pinot noir and close management of sauvignon blanc to avoid a glut.

Hawke's Bay's harvest rose to 20 per cent, returning to "normal" levels after a low 2008 vintage because of problems with frost and poor fruit set. Hawke's Bay styles - including chardonnay, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and syrah - all increased.

The crop in Central Otago was down 35 per cent from the bumper 2008 vintage, due to crop management.

The markedly smaller pinot noir crops in Central Otago and Marlborough led to a 16 per cent reduction in pinot noir production on 2008.

Record crops were recorded in Nelson (up 11 per cent) and Wairarapa (up 8 per cent), while Gisborne's crop was down 3 per cent.

- NZPA