Wine Grower (2151)
Acclaimed for the diversity of its wine styles, Hawke’s Bay can equally offer an array of reasons to explain mounting confidence in the future of its wine industry.
In 2013 there were more new vineyard developments in Marlborough, than there had been in the four years preceding it. And it appears that the coming 12 months are going to see even more planting, if the latest vine nursery survey figures are anything to go by.
Selling multiple pallets of a particular wine is great for any business, in reputation and cash-flow, but it does not automatically catapult a wine into cult status; there’s much more than a good sales record involved in that.
In the last week or so there have been two developments which every grower and winery should note with some pride.
When Greg and Amanda Day purchased their first wine business in 1998 it was always going to be the beginning of something larger. Kahurangi Estate is now much more than a fine wine producer, it is the public face of a business with many arms.
The word Wairarapa conjures up images of the quaint and gentrified little town of Martinborough and its small wine industry. This region is synonymous with low quantity wine production and high quality wines. If small is beautiful, then here it is.
There are tractors balancing bins of grapes trundling down roads criss-crossing the Martinborough Wine Village. Casual street conversations start with “how are your grapes?” and the lights are on late in wineries all over town. The 2014 harvest has begun.
The Board of NZWinegrowers has recently agreed a 10 year strategy around major events and inbound visitors to New Zealand. The strategy is a direct follow up to a review of the very successful Pinot Noir 2013 held in Wellington a little more than a year ago.
While vintage is close to over in some of the northern regions, it is just hitting its straps further south. And so far, so good.
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