12 April 2013

Bay’s reds ready to harvest ahead of next week’s rain

It’s all hands to the picking buckets this weekend as many Hawke’s Bay grape growers harvest the last of their red grapes ahead of the “dodgy” weather forecast for next week.

The wonderful summer and autumn enjoyed in the Bay this season has meant that grapes have generally ripened earlier and so the predominantly Cabernets and Syrah grapes set to come off over the coming few days are ready to pick despite being a week to 10 days ahead of normal.

“We’re at that point of the vintage that you realise that it’s over,” says Peter Gough, senior winemaker and viticulturist with Ngatarawa. “The fruit is looking great; it’s a high quality vintage. We’re more tired at this point than usual, but for all that, we’re pretty happy.”

Hugh Crichton, winemaker from Vidal Estate is gearing up for a big day on Sunday. “Rain is forecast but how much is always the question, but the flavours are there so we’re not taking any risks. The Syrahs are slightly dehydrated so that’s giving good concentration and the Cabernets have lost the green characteristics so that’s positive.”

The lack of disease is a factor commented on by growers as a reflection of a great summer. Crichton says that he had not seen a single botrytis-affected berry this season, something he had “never experienced ever before, it’s incredible”.

Tim Turvey from Clearview Estate Winery says that while he’s not panicking about the weather, 90 percent of his fruit will be harvested by Tuesday because it is ready to pick. The remainder is grapes on older vines that “can handle any weather”.

“We like to push a few limits with our grapes and this is certainly a year to push it,” he says. His estimation is that this vintage will be one to rival the winery’s previous best of 2007 and 2009.

ENDS

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