Vintage 2024: Central Otago
With a late frost last year, a hailstorm in February, and frost fighting in March, some subregions of Central Otago have been kept on their toes this season.
The company started with Pinot Noir on 12 March, and Gewürztraminer the second cab off the rank.
"Things are looking wonderful; the weather forecast is looking good; the sugars are looking really good; it's got lovely acids."
The crop is "on the lighter side" but not as low as he anticipated, with current estimates of a 10% to 15% drop on the average.
"But we haven't started on Sauvignon Blanc and that's the biggie, so that might be a bit lighter."
They also have some areas that were badly frosted, with 90% of the yield lost.
But with the rest of the vineyard just under normal, "we are pretty happy," Chris says.
