Growers Unite - Four decades of Winegrowers Association

SOPHIE PREECE

ON APRIL 9, 1980, a group of Marlborough grape growers decided to join forces as they grappled with a budding new industry. That meeting, 40 years ago this month, resulted in the Marlborough Winegrowers Association, and changed the face of the country’s wine industry.

Founding member Phil Rose says there were few growers back then, mostly harvesting Müller-Thurgau, “and we were all new to the game”. There were around eight Montana growers in town, he says. “Some of us had 20 hectares, some only had four.” Bill Walsh was inaugural chair and Phil vice chair of the association, which was incorporated in June that year. The first meeting, held in May 1980, covered spray regulations, grape prices and the risk of phylloxera, which John Marris spoke to, including a push for the restriction of movements of grape cuttings.

According to the minutes, John emphasised the “vital importance” of the issue to Marlborough, noting that it would cost Montana, for whom he worked, $15 million to change to grafted cuttings. Joe Corban then spoke to the inaugural meeting, giving insights into “facets of the wine industry of interest to the association”, and on the workings of the Wine Institute.

By the second meeting in June, the opportunity for a Marlborough Wine Festival was raised by Hamish Young. Phil says that led to various scenarios trialled over several years, including one at Waterlea Racecourse and another that moved around wineries. “It was very much in its infancy in those days.”

Phil, the founder of Wairau River Wines, was chairman when the association was faced with the feared incursion of phylloxera, an aphid that feeds on the roots of grapevines, and the board looked to isolate the properties impacted. Having a united body was incredibly important when it came to dealing with the incursion, and the association developed and

Phil and Chris Rose

implemented a strategy, he says. “At the end of the day the number one thing was to replant Marlborough in resistant rootstock... Those were interesting times.” The issue “shook” growers. “We didn’t ever think it would land on our doorstep as quickly as it did.”

The association was a “whole different beast” to today’s organisation, says Phil. “In those early days it was them and us, with the Wine Institute representing the winemakers and the local associations - whether they be Auckland, Hawke’s Bay or Gisborne - representing the growers.” Marlborough growers had a unified front when the Grape Growers Council and Wine Institute formed the peak body New Zealand Winegrowers, he says. “We are now one, but at least we had our side half organised when it all came together.”

Growing Business

Ormond Nurseries Expansion

MARLBOROUGH’S ORMOND Nurseries has bought Villa Maria’s Vineyard Plants in Hawke’s Bay, including Vine Test Lab.

The sale takes effect from August 31, and Vineyard Plants will close after the vines grafted in 2019 are harvested, graded and despatched to clients. Vine Test Lab - one of only two laboratories in New Zealand focussed on testing grapevines for the presence of Grape Vine Leaf Roll 3 - will continue to operate in Hawke’s Bay for the 2020 testing season, and will be moved to Ormond Nurseries in Marlborough in time for the 2021 season.

The sale involves all of the unique clonal material that Vineyard Plants owns, including Field Selections from the award winning Twyford Gravels and Graham vineyards, Chardonnay Montie - a Chardonnay selected from Montrachet in France - and three clones of Albarino, which recently arrived in New Zealand from UC Davis in the United States.

Vineyard Plants was established in 1999 to meet the needs of Villa Maria’s developments, and those of its growers, says Villa Maria Chief Executive Justin Liddell. “After 20 years in the nursery industry we feel very comfortable to hand this on to Ormond Nurseries Ltd, for whom it is their core focus.” Ormond Nurseries, run by the Wickham family, was the first nursery to develop HISTEM Vines, and Villa is confident in sourcing its vines from the company going forward, says Justin. “Ormond Nurseries Ltd are world leaders in propagating top quality, grafted grape plants and have an excellent understanding of what it takes to grow quality vines from scratch.”

Ormond Nurseries General Manager Marcus Wickham says there are many synergies between Vineyard Plants and Ormond Nurseries. “Not only are both companies family owned with loyal industry relationships, but they have been proven to be innovative and committed to the future of the industry with both being sponsors of the Young Viticulturist of the Year competition”.

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