Bay grape yield drops as summer chill bites

Cold weather over summer has led to an 11 per cent drop in New Zealand vineyard harvests.

Many had experienced low levels of fruit, and Hawke's Bay had followed the trend, Hawke's Bay Winegrowers' chairman Nicholas Buck said.

Confirming the pattern, Te Awa Winery general manager and chief winemaker Ant Mackenzie said the company's harvest was down about 40 per cent on normal levels, which had been low for three years.

The 2012 harvest was the lowest for Te Awa Winery since 2003, when frosts affected the fruit.

The winemaker at Mission Estate Winery, Paul Mooney, said crop levels were down by 20 to 30 per cent in the company's vineyards and alcohol levels were also reduced.

"The flavours developed in the grapes were okay, but sugars were lower and consequently alcohol was lower," Mr Mooney said.

Mr Buck said wine sales had been increasing by about 15 per cent a year, however the lower levels of fruit could result in supply shortages and higher prices over the next 12 to 24 months.

Besides shortages, Mr Buck said the quality of the wines could "fluctuate", depending on how individual vineyards responded to the adverse conditions.

Mr Mackenzie said that because of the cool year, the vine's natural tendency was to do a good job of ripening less fruit.

"We just need to be vigilant with crop levels so it has a good chance," he said.

Te Awa Winery focussed on "canopy management" to offset the cool weather; ensuring air circulation around the fruit, the fruit was not hidden by foliage and the foliage received optimum sunlight.

Mission Estate Winery had been recording temperatures since 1998 and Mr Mooney said 2012 had been one of the coolest years.

"It didn't look all that promising early on, but we are quite happy with what we have made."

Mr Mackenzie said Hawke's Bay wines such as chardonnay and syrah would be stronger for the 2012 vintage as the grapes were picked earlier than other varieties and ripened more easily.