Eruption no cause for concern

The volcanic eruption in Indonesia is unlikely to worry grape-growers in Central Otago because the event was a minor explosion, a Cromwell-based viticulture manager said yesterday.

James Dicey, of GrapeVision vineyard management, said the explosion would be a concern if it rivalled the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines.

The eruption of Mt Merapi near Central Java on Monday was minor compared to the June 1991 blast, he said.

If a dust cloud drifted into the atmosphere above New Zealand it would be a concern but this was unlikely, he said.

The 1991/1992 growing season was shortened by the subsequent ash cloud, which reduced the heat available to vineyards by reflecting some of the sun's rays away from the Earth, he said.

"It's like living under a cloud all the time," he said.

Gibbston Valley and Central Otago viticulturist and consultant Tim Morrison-Deaker said the crop yield last year was down so growers were hoping for a return to form.

After the 1991 eruption there were two poor vintages, he said.

He said the potential damage to the grape-growing industry if a Pinatubo-style eruption pumped an ash cloud towards New Zealand was a concern.

But the Indonesian eruption was unlikely to trouble growers unless it spewed a continuous plume, he said.

It highlighted how young Central Otago's wine industry was because few people remembered the devastating 1991 blast.

"The industry was so small then but there are more jobs at risk and investment into Central Otago now.

"You realise how little control you have over mother nature."

Meanwhile, growers are anxiously monitoring vines in the Southern Lakes and hoping the La Nina weather pattern brings spring warmth and summer sun to the region's vineyards.

Mr Morrison-Deaker said vines were off to a good start although staff were busy frost-fighting and would continue to do so for at least another month.

University of Auckland school of environment research associate Dr Jim Salinger yesterday said La Nina should lead to a dry, warm growing season.

It would probably mean a hotter late season, weather that helped promote grapes, he said.

Rippon Vineyard and winery manager Jo Mills said a windy spell or frosts could kill young vines so it was difficult to say how the season would pan out.

"This warm weather has been fabulous but until the last of the snow goes we're not out of the clear."

Bannockburn winemaker Roger DeGrauw, of Mt Difficulty, said it was critical the vines got off to a good start at the beginning of the growing season.