Dream pick under way

Wairarapa vineyards are a-buzz with people harvesting grapes.

According to the president of Wairarapa Winegrowers' Association, Paul Nathan, it has been a dream summer.

"We had a good bit of rain in February and some more recently but actually the vines don't need much rain and we didn't irrigate some vines this year," Mr Nathan said.

"Last year we had a cooler, wetter summer which was harder work for us, but this time it is the other way around; it is swings and roundabouts for farmers and our industry and it has been our turn this year."

Mr Nathan says that in Martinborough alone there are about 200 workers coming in each day for about 5 weeks.

"I have 30 pickers here at the Martinborough Vineyard and the other big ones, Te Kairanga and Ata Rangi, will be about the same.

"Because of high unemployment, people are grateful for the work and that is a good feeling," Mr Nathan said.

"We have pickers that come back year after year, and we get to know our seasonal staff."

There are 55 vineyards registered in Wairarapa and wine prices are starting to get better for the industry.

Mr Nathan says that the glut from the oversupply of the 2008 vintage has gone and demand and supply are coming into line now.

"We have been able to put our prices up a bit and others are too."

Escarpment vineyard owner Larry McKenna says crops all over the North Island are in great shape this year.

"The season is looking as perfect as can be," he said.

Escarpment has just started picking and has two workers on board, Canadian Brent Rowlands and local man Mark Langlands.

"Both the pinot noir and the chardonnay grapes are ready.

"They are in good condition, no disease and the sugar is where we want it," Mr McKenna said.

"The grapes are slightly less acidic than normal due to the warm summer."

The weather forecast for the next week is for sunshine and apparently now any rain that comes will not affect the grapes because picking is already under way.

"If it rains, we pick fast; it's pretty much in the bag," Mr McKenna said.