Vintage year in Hawkes Bay

Hawkes Bay looks to be on track for another bumper grape harvest.

Nationally, growers and wineries are expecting a quality vintage that will be the industry's second largest, but growers in the biggest wine-producing area, Hawkes Bay, say the crop will be the region's biggest.

Hawkes Bay Winegrowers chairman John Loughlin said his members' vines experienced a good flowering across the board, setting them up for a heavy harvest.

After a wet and cool February last year, the 2004 vintage benefited from a long, warm autumn - delivering Hawkes Bay a record harvest of 30,429 tonnes.

This season, as young vineyards mature and vines bounce back from previous frostings, that could lift to around 35,000 tonnes.

A higher yield would not compromise the excellence of the fruit, Mr Loughlin said.

"I understand most growers have managed their crops in terms of quality."

Hawkes Bay's harvest will get under way a week or two later than usual. Askerne, Mr Loughlin's winery, will start in the third week of this month with gewurztraminer, one of the earliest varieties.

Chardonnay is also a bit behind schedule, but later varieties, such as cabernet sauvignon, are running on time or slightly early.

New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan said the vintage had started in Gisborne and would conclude in southern regions in a little over three months.

"At this stage the grapes look in good condition and the prospects for a quality harvest are positive following warm, dry weather in January and February."

This year's vintage would be harvested from a record national planting of 20,500ha, up 2200ha on 2004. Despite the increased growing area, Mr Gregan said the industry did not expect a larger harvest than 2004.

"While there are more vineyards producing this year, the potential crop size has been influenced by cool December weather, particularly in central and southern regions.

"On this basis we anticipate a vintage of between 140,000 and 160,000 tonnes of grapes, down from 167,000 in 2004. This would, however, still make it the industry's second-largest vintage yet."

Growers needed further warm, dry weather to fully ripen their fruit.

"Only after the final grapes are harvested will the celebrations start," Mr Gregan said.

- NZPA