'10 vintage may be smaller but better

JOHN EDENS/The Southland Times

CRUSH EM' GOOD: Black Ridge Vineyard manager Sue Edwards at one of the oldest vineyards in Central Otago, Earnscleugh, checking pinot noir grapes before harvesting starts on Monday.

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Viticulturists in Central Otago are gearing up for the grape harvest, which should be in full swing later this month.

Expectations are high, despite a patchy growing season, a cool spring and windy early summer.

Winemakers yesterday said fruit quality was promising although yields were down, as expected.

However, with a continuing glut worldwide, a reduced volume of reputable, quality Central Otago wine was no cause for concern.

Mt Difficulty winemaker Matt Dicey said fruit at the 80ha vineyard in Bannockburn was of excellent quality.

"It's looking to be quite a condensed harvest, early indications are good," he said.

He said the winery would have a better idea of flavour when the first vintage was bottled in two to three weeks.

Gibbston Valley-based Chard Farm proprietor Rob Hay said he was quietly confident of producing a great 2010 vintage.

So far, more than 100 tonnes of fruit – smaller grapes with concentrated flavours – had been delivered to the winery, he said.

He said an inspection of wine during early fermentation was promising although the overall yield from the 54ha vineyard was down by about 30 per cent.

A smaller yield of concentrated grapes producing intense wines was an advantage, he said.

"Central Otago is very unusual. We're on the edge of viticulture and part of living on the edge is the yields."

Sue Edwards, of Black Ridge Vineyard near Alexandra, said harvesting started on Monday. The crop was substantial and the fruit's sugar ripeness was promising, she said. Pinot noir grapes would be allowed to mature for another two weeks so other varieties, including gewurtztraminer and pinot gris, would be picked first.

Visitors Raiha and Walter Fredricsen, who owns a liquor store in Paihia, enjoyed a tour of the vineyard on Friday. Mrs Fredricsen said she was surprised by the abundance of flavours in many of the region's wines, particularly the mineral complexity.

Rippon Vineyard and Winery manager Jo Mills said harvesting had started and fruit was small, clean-flavoured and evenly ripe.

Reports of producers dumping wine, particularly sauvignon blanc, on overseas markets were not a concern. Sauvignon blanc from Central stood out, its flavour and characteristics differed from other regions and demand was steady, she said.

The 2010 crop at the 16ha vineyard near Wanaka was "a cracker," she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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