Editorial: Wool's Back in the Black
OPINION: Confidence in the wool sector is rebounding as prices hit levels not seen in more than 15 years.
Fast forward to 2025, and I delight in seeing sheep grazing blocks in winter, kaleidoscopic cover crops bursting between the vines in spring, and native plantings protruding from pockets of vineyards and neighbouring wetlands.
Organic practices have bled into conventional farming, and the new kid on the block, regenerative viticulture, has opened a practical toolbox that growers can reach for to reduce spraying, tillage and tractor passes, while boosting their soil microbiome, vine health, and ecological impact.
"The idea is not just sustaining our environment but improving what we have," says Felton Road Estate Manager Gareth King in this month's focus feature. "Nurturing the place we have, and leaving it in a better way than when we found it."
As well as the regenerative viticulture feature, this edition has the Haere Rā 2025 regional update, in which industry members from around the country offer insights into the year that's been.
There's no doubt it's been tough, nor that the year ahead will require resilience - survive to '25 was aspirational and survive through '25 a battle.
Getting through '26 will be a similar test of endurance. But amid the 'bad' moments highlighted in the feature, there's also an abundance of 'good' and 'awesome'.
Read More:
- Felton Road Named Winery of the Year New Zealand for Second Consecutive Year
- The sky is the limit at Felton Road
- Growing regenerative viticulture
"This isn't just about weathering the storm," says Matt Barbour from North Canterbury. "It's about reaffirming who we are: a bold, distinctive vine-producing region with deep roots and enduring pride."
