ProWein is considered by many to be one of the most important international wine fairs and this year it attracted over 40,000 visitors from right across Europe, and even as far afield as Russia and China.

It has been a tough vintage for everyone with a noticeable lack of sunshine during summer months, periods of heavy rain when we didn’t want them, then the drawn out autumn that provided perfect late ripening conditions.

“Friday, March 1 and Saturday March 2 2002 … just two more days like any other days, or significant milestones in the on-going history of the New Zealand grape and wine industry?

Three and a half years of trials into the impact of mechanical thinning on grapes funded by New Zealand Winegrowers, has thrown up some interesting results. One of the major ones being, that mechanical thinning appears to reduce the incidence of botrytis – which long term could be a major saving for growers in terms of sprays and disease management.

It could well go down as the summer that never took place. The 2012 vintage has been affected by cooler than average temperatures and unseasonal conditions that have affected more than one wine growing region. 

Actor and winemaker Sam Neill will open Pinot Noir NZ 2013 in Wellington next year, chairman of the board behind the event, Alastair Maling MW, announced as he opened registrations.

The first grapes of the 2012 New Zealand grape harvest have been picked in northern regions amid high hopes for this vintage, which has started later than recent years.

With wineries placing strict yield limits on crops throughout New Zealand, the need to be able to control growth, without breaking the bank, is becoming more important.

With a scheme dating from mid-nineties and now covering over 95% of our vineyard area, New Zealand has largely been ahead of the pack when it comes to sustainable winegrowing. However, as New World competitors such as Chile and South Africa instate their own environmental programmes, the gap is starting to narrow.

Traceability of New Zealand wine is an important marketing tool, which should cover every aspect from the vines, through to the bottled product. It is a process that New Zealand Winegrowers has worked hard to develop, through programmes such as Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.