The date was August 24, 1973. There were few who believed grapes could grow so far south, let alone many who could relate to Frank Yukich’s goal of turning the sleepy little province into an internationally renowned wine producer. Yet that is exactly what has happened and all within just four decades. From a small producer of a range of less than desirable wines, New Zealand now has a wine industry worth more than $1.2 billion in exports and Marlborough has played a massive role in that growth.
Randy Weaver, Director of Wine Science at Auckland University was one of Montana’s early winemakers, arriving here from America in 1973. He admits the change since then has been nothing short of phenomenal. From “terrible grape varieties,” like Albany Surprise, Palomino and Baco 27A, New Zealand is now a world leader in Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and is hitting its strides with a number of other classic varieties. All in just 40 years.
He believes it is only just the beginning. “It’s still morning in New Zealand in terms of what we can grow and achieve. Other wine producing regions would have taken hundreds of years to achieve what has been achieved here in such a short time.”
But what of the future? Given Bragato this year is all about learning from our past to ensure we don’t make the same mistakes moving forward, I thought it was appropriate to ask some experts where they see the New Zealand wine industry going. Dr Richard Smart who played an integral role in establishing secure viticultural practices here, takes a look at where New Zealand wine may be in 2053. Peter McAtamney from Wine Business Solutions looks closely at the future markets – what are consumers likely to want, and how can New Zealand consolidate on the hard work of the past? Caine Thompson looks at some specific viticultural issues, while researcher Dr David Jordan considers where the greatest threat to the industry lies, in terms of the vineyard. Then to round it all off Marija Batisich from Bell Gully contemplates the legal issues of the future, such as alcohol reform, urban encroachment and water rights.
So as we celebrate an outstanding 40 years of growth in New Zealand, it is also the perfect time to think about how we prepare for the next 40.
