Viticulture
This commentary relates to viticulture throughout New Zealand in the 2000 vintage plus trends and issues facing the industry.
Key Points
- Production of grapes for this season was 80,000ÿtonnes, only slightly up on the 1999 intake of 79,700ÿtonnes.
- Grape quality was very satisfactory and high quality wines are predicted from this year's vintage.
- It is estimated the national vineyard area will be 12,000 ha by 2002, with 83% on Phylloxera resistant rootstocks.
- White wine varieties continue to dominate the plantings but there is rapid growth in red wine plantings, led by Pinot Noir.
- There has been a 27% increase in value of wine exports in the last year to $150 million (fob).
Physical Factors
Climate
The 1999/2000 season was marked by a cool flowering period for November/December that limited yield, particularly in South Island vineyards. Sauvignon Blanc in Marlborough was the most significantly affected by the cool spring, leading to yield reductions of between 20-30% on average, and up to 50% in some parts of the Wairau Plains.
This will have on-going effects on the export market, as Sauvignon Blanc remains the most important flagship wine for New Zealand.
A warm, dry ripening period in Hawke's Bay and most North Island vineyard areas led to a good vintage of quality fruit. The only exception was the Gisborne region where there were some vineyards affected by late rain and subsequent fruit rots.
Production
Very rapid growth in plantings continues to occur, which is leading to shortages of nursery stock and waiting lists of up to two years.
Table 1 outlines the historical growth of the wine industry, with the area planted now predicted to be 12,000 hectares compared with 5,800 ha in 1990.
Approximately 74% of the total planted area is grafted on Phylloxera resistant rootstocks. This is predicted to increase to 83% of the national vineyard plantings by Year 2002.
Regionally vineyards are concentrated in 10 areas, but Marlborough, Hawke's Bay and Gisborne constitute 85% of the plantings, with smaller growth areas in Otago, Canterbury, Nelson, Wairarapa, Waikato, Auckland and Northland. Table 2 outlines the current and predicted regional growth of vineyard areas.
The majority of the new plantings will continue to be in Marlborough. This has risen to over 39% of the national area and is predicted to rise to 41% by the year 2002. Slower increases in plantings and production from Hawke's Bay and Gisborne will also occur so that by the year 2002 it is forecast these latter two areas combined will only equal that of Marlborough on its own.
Of the other regions, Otago is forecast to grow 42%, Canterbury by 34%, and Nelson by 50% in the next two years. However, these regions are predicted to remain minor (2-3% of the national vineyard area).
Production for this season was 80,000 tonnes, only slightly higher than the 79,700 received in the 1999 season. This is despite additional new areas of vines coming into production. The reason for this is due to the cool flowering period leading to lower than expected crops, particularly in the South Island. Sauvignon Blanc in Marlborough were particularly affected and this may have on-going effects in the export market over the next 12 months or more.
The variety composition of the national vineyard is dominated by white grapes, which currently account for 73% of total plantings. Chardonnay (38%) and Sauvignon Blanc (31%) dominate the white wine varieties planted. White varieties are predicted to maintain their dominance into year 2002 (69.5%). Pinot Gris may also feature as a variety in the next two years and will almost double to 164 ha.
Red wine varieties are rapidly growing in importance led by Pinot Noir (826 ha), Cabernet Sauvignon (653 ha), and Merlot (535 ha). Red wine variety plantings have increased 28% in the past year. Predictions are that Pinot Noir will grow by over 70% over each of the next two years, particularly in the South Island.
There are now 363 licensed winemakers, treble the number of 1990.
Competition from imports on the domestic market is fierce with foreign wine holding a market share of around 40%. The increasing competition is forcing on-going restructuring in the industry. Vineyard size is increasing as wineries seek economy of scale, while changes in retail and distribution systems are challenging many wineries to find new ways to promote their products and access consumers. However, winemakers do co-operate to promote and advance the cause of New Zealand wine, especially overseas.
Source: BNZ Wine and Grape Industry Statistics Annual 1999 – published by Winegrowers of New Zealand
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