High fliers at Abel in Nelson
Abel flew through its spray programme – quite literally – in the lead up to vintage 2024.
"Obviously given what was happening elsewhere, we feel very privileged." But it was a lot of work - "brutal", he says - to get vines through to a healthy harvest. The resulting Chardonnays look very good, although it's early days in their development, Todd says. "I'm also quietly confident in the Pinots which show some real concentration and vibrancy in their early stage."
Seifried Estate's Heidi Seifried-Houghton says the season has to be referenced against the experience of other regions. "We feel like we've been lucky." There was rain throughout the growing season, but Nelson had a good run of sunshine over harvest, "which takes a lot of stress out of it". She also references the hard work to ensure vines had good canopy management and spray coverage throughout the season.
Overall yields were slightly below average, with the Motueka blocks - which were pruned late - enjoying a better flowering than those on the Waimea Plains, Heidi says. As with every year, she's excited by the company's low yielding Gewürztraminer, and says Sauvignon Blanc looks "really good" as well. There is higher acidity this year, but the sugars were good at harvest, she adds. Seifried Estate welcomed the youth, energy and accents that returned to the winery this harvest, with borders open and international cellar hands on the floor. "It sort of completes the vintage."
