Central Otago is likely to be the only wine region in New Zealand regretting the end of La Niña’s three-year reign, says consultant viticulturist Timbo Morrison-Deaker.
North Canterbury required vineyard vigilance this season, with 245mm of rain over the three months to 18 April, compared to the long-term average of 143.7mm, according to VineFacts.
"We're very happy," says Neudorf Winemaker Todd Stevens, reporting clean fruit and "solid" volumes for vintage 2023, with flowering in their Moutere Hills vineyards better than summer estimates.
Nature kept Marlborough grapegrowers on their toe this season, then swept in with a beautiful second summer just when the industry needed it.
Richard Brimer's annual vintage road trip faced many of the same hurdles as wine companies this harvest, including ongoing rain and not-going ferries.
The impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle on the wine industry will be long lasting, says Mark Thompson, Chief Winemaker at GisVin and Chair of Gisborne Winegrowers Association.
Wairarapa has a wet winter, spring, summer and autumn, says Ata Rangi Head Winemaker Helen Masters.
While Cyclone Gabrielle "smoked" some grapegrowers in Hawke's Bay this season, others are reporting stellar results thanks to a long late summer.
The hard work paid off in vintage 2023, says Tony Soljan from Soljans Estate Winery in West Auckland.
At the other extreme of the nation's weather stats, Central Otago had low rainfall from December through February, with 44.4mm of rain (37% of the LTA) in the 82 days from 1 December to 20 February.
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