Demand high as this year’s harvest begins
The first grapes of the 2022 vintage have been harvested and, given ongoing international demand and low stock levels, winemakers are hoping for a significantly larger harvest this year.
Last year’s harvest, while of exceptional quality, was 19 per cent smaller than the previous year, New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan said.
That had forced wineries to draw down on stocks to maintain their place in the market.
‘‘New Zealand wine sales for last year were 324 million litres, meaning they were 48 million litres more than was actually produced in the 2021 vintage,’’ Gregan said.
‘‘This stock drawdown highlights that we desperately need a bigger harvest in 2022, to replenish cellars, and help satisfy international demand.’’
Many wineries had also faced tough decisions about who they could supply in their key markets, as the ongoing increase in international demand had placed a huge strain on already depleted stocks.
For some wineries, there had not been enough wine to go around, Gregan said.
However, the ongoing demand for
New Zealand wine had proven that its flavours, quality and sustainability resonated with international consumers.
Increasing production costs and the ongoing effects of Covid19 on the border, markets, and supply chains had continued to impact the industry, and over the last year labour shortages had been a huge concern for many growers and wineries.
‘‘The introduction of Omicron into the country on the cusp of the 2022 vintage is a very serious concern for growers and wineries, as this is our busiest time of year, and we are already facing a critical labour shortage in some regions.
‘‘The unavailability of skilled workers due to the ongoing closure of New Zealand’s borders means undoubtedly this vintage will be more difficult to manage than normal.’’
Wine businesses which sold mainly through the cellar door and tourism sectors also continued to experience significant setbacks.
‘‘Red-light restrictions on operations of hospitality businesses are a major challenge for wineries dependent on that sector. Cellar doors have been hit hard by the collapse in international tourist numbers over the past two years.
‘‘Positively, we have seen more New Zealanders visiting cellar doors, but there are long, lean periods as we move out of the traditional Kiwi holiday period.’’
Although the coming vintage was expected to be challenging, the experience of operating harvest during the pandemic had strengthened the industry in its resilience to respond quickly and adapt during difficult times, Gregan said.