Vintage 2009

Natural conditions were bountiful in 2009, and with 2,000 more hectares coming on stream, there was potential for production levels to spike to as much as 400,000 tonnes of grapes. The difficulties this would have presented to the industry were identified early. Growers and wineries worked together to bring the crop back into line with market demand. As a result of this industry-wide effort the vintage came in at 285,000 tonnes — the same level as last year. Average yield was 9.2 tonnes per hectare — down from 9.7 tonnes per hectare in 2008. This disciplined industry approach to yield management, combined with a prolonged ripening period to produce a vintage that is shaping up to be one of the finest for some time.

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc accounted for 57% of the vintage with 161,000 tonnes harvested. This was just 5% higher than the previous year, despite the producing area of Sauvignon Blanc vineyards lifting substantially. This result illustrates the great restraint exercised by the industry in the region in 2009. Overall, in 2009 Marlborough’s total grape intake fell 1%.

Production of Pinot Noir, our second most widely planted variety, fell 16% to 27,000 tonnes reflecting lower yields, notably in Marlborough and Central Otago.

Hawkes Bay by contrast lifted production 20% as the region returned to full bearing after the frost-reduced 2008 vintage. As a consequence, volumes of Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon all increased. Yield restrictions limited the Gisborne vintage, while among the boutique regions Wairarapa and Nelson enjoyed record harvests.

Overall the 2009 vintage represents a good result for the industry in terms of quality and quantity. It is significant also in that it showed how quickly the industry could respond to market place signals when they were clear and unequivocal. This does not mean that the industry can afford to relax the discipline it imposed upon itself this year. On the contrary, 2009 should be seen as the first year of a new reality.