Wine Harvest a delight on back of dry, warm summer

It was the first pick of the season for Kahurangi Estate last week, as a chardonnay variety was harvested on the Waimea Plains.

The grapes, hand-picked at the Appleby vineyard, were destined for the winery’s blanc de blancs méthode traditionnelle.

Managing director David Barrett said the grapes were harvested before other varieties because the bubbly needed grapes with a lower sugar measurement for a “crisper, cleaner finish” - with sugar levels increasing as the fruit ripened.

The quality of the fruit this year in all varieties was “exceptional” due to the extended dry warm weather, exciting growers and winemakers across the region, he said.

The dry conditions “reduced disease pressure greatly” and helped ripened the fruit fully, Barrett said.

“Just clean, ripe, beautiful flavours.

“Some of us did get hit by a late frost at the end of last year, which hurt us quite badly, so to get some really nice clean fruit of this quality is just a fantastic way to end this vintage.”

Nelson 2024 wines should be “of exceptional quality”, he said.

Kahurangi Estate was expected to finish harvesting by around mid April, ending with its sauvignon blanc and reisling varieties.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/rural/350221078/vineyard-crops-delight-back-dry-warm-summer