Favourable weather sets scene for good crop
Marlborough’s hot and dry start to summer created ideal flowering conditions for grapes, viticulturists say.
However, they are expecting only an average crop because of poor flowering conditions this time last year.
Rapaura Rd grape grower Jude Waldron said the warm, dry and slightly windy weather had been ‘‘perfect’’ weather for flowering.
‘‘[Sauvignon blanc] is looking like a humdinger and chardonnay is looking good, too.’’
Fairhall Downs owner Stuart Smith said the potential number of bunches and berries this year would not be huge because they were set during flowering last year, when it was cool and wet.
However, this summer’s warm weather would help boost the potential, he said.
‘‘It’s been pretty good so far. The question now is how good the set is; we’ll get more of an idea in another couple of weeks.’’
If good weather prevailed, the region should produce an ‘‘average’’ crop in 2013, he said.
That would be an improvement on the 2011 vintage, which was down 23 per cent across the region.
Grape grower Ross Flowerday said there had been ‘‘fantastic flowering’’ conditions in the Awatere Valley.
‘‘Fruit set will be looking good; we’re happy with the way it’s looking, but there is still a long way to go.’’
With such ideal weather determining next year’s potential to bear fruit, 2014 could be a large harvest, he said.
Auntsfield viticulturist Ben Cowley was pleased with the condition of their vines in the southern valleys. ‘‘The flowering is as good as can be expected – the warm, dry weather is a pretty good indicator of what to expect; we’ll know more in a few weeks.’’
The conditions had also reduced the risk of infection and disease, he said.