5 minute read
From Wine Marlborough - Nicci Armour
From Wine Marlborough
NICCI ARMOUR
AUTUMN IS upon us, and it is with equanimity - along with a mix of disquiet, intrigue, and hope - that I write to you at this point of my first harvest. Over the past two months, I’ve met an incredible range of people who add to the tapestry of Marlborough’s wine industry. From the veteran winemaker doing his 30th vintage to the young French traveller eager to learn on their second. Indomitable seasonal workers from the Pacific brighten my street every evening upon their return from the vineyards. And the hairdresser turned cellar hand filling oak barrels (see
page 14) forges a new path that other Kiwis might follow. Marlborough’s vintage workforce has a complexity akin in some ways to our wine. Across it is an air of competence common to rural communities, and it’s clear that vintage instils a shared sense of pride - and grit - in our industry and the community.
However, it’s just shy of Easter at the time of writing, and the 2021 harvest has nearly finished. While picking started uncharacteristically early, vintage has been shorter mainly due to low yields. The combined evidence of the low fruit set and late frosts was visible for weeks before vintage. Variable winter pruning quality likely compounded this further on some vineyards. Smaller, sparser bunches were typical across the board this season, resulting in
a possible decrease in tonnage across the region that some experienced members estimate at 20 to 30%. But anecdotally, this figure is a lot higher in some areas. With the combination of lower yields, increased production costs, and a shortage of winter labour, the 2021/22 season may pose a challenge that is difficult for some of our members to ride out. No doubt, these impacts will cause ripples in the wider Marlborough community. New Zealand Winegrowers and Wine Marlborough continue to work through official channels for support to alleviate pressure for our members, especially in the areas of labour. We strongly advocate bringing more workers to the region and are highlighting the importance of bringing in the skills and experience suitable for the winter pruning task. Both skill and speed are critical factors when undertaking the pruning of approximately 29,000 hectares of vines -or more startlingly, 65,000,000 vines - in the space of roughly four months. And although we need to get the job done, there are both short- and long-term impacts of poor pruning quality.
A collective effort is taking place across Marlborough stakeholders vested in supporting the wine industry. A letter from the Mayor highlighting how vitally important wine and our winter pruning workforce is for Marlborough was wellreceived across the Cook Strait. Many labour groups have and continue to send clear messages of our labour needs to the capital, which the Kaikōura MP has endorsed. Our colleagues’ diverse expertise at the Marlborough Research Centre has focused on tackling the anticipated winter labour shortage. Wine Marlborough too has been collectively working towards support and solutions for pruning Marlborough’s vines this winter. We are here to support Marlborough’s wineries, viticulturists, vineyard managers, and labour contractors on how our industry might best execute pruning this winter.
As we head towards a potentially challenging 2021/22 season, Marlborough grit and competence may be our mainstay. However, we also have a well of diverse experience to draw on. Problem-solving together can underpin a more resilient position for our industry and provide rich fodder for innovation and longer-term planning. A critical layer in our resilience as an industry also lies in our well-being. The Marlborough wine industry shares an incredible level of passion, competence, and caring, evident during my short stint as advocacy manager thus far. In the months to come, we must keep an eye on employees, colleagues, and friends and lean on our community when needed.
Photo by Richard Briggs
Global demand drives industry growth
Marlborough’s wine industry is continuing to burgeon, according to the soon to be released Marlborough Labour Market Survey.
The survey shows confidence in Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has not waned, says Wine Marlborough general manager Marcus Pickens. “There is an indication of substantial plantings into the future and, correspondingly, new jobs being created along with more accommodation being needed. It’s also no surprise that water storage intentions keep pace with planting intentions.” Marcus says it is clear there are challenges ahead, noting the current shortage of labour heading into the winter pruning season. “It’s going to require a balance of the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme and other pools of workers.”
But what’s not uncertain is the growing demand for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Marcus says. “During the survey interviews in December, there was a lot of confidence from wine companies that they’ll be able to sell everything they produce. I am sure this has only increased.”
The last Labour Market Survey was released in 2016 and resulted in labour summits, at which Government and industry representatives tackled issues that accompany the industry’s continued growth. Marcus says he had anticipated the steep growth trajectory revealed by that survey, which found wine companies planned to increase their vineyard holdings by 6,800 hectares, taking the total area of plantings in Marlborough to 29,270ha. But he says he was more surprised this time around, as companies continue to move into land once considered marginal, “but now accepted as where the future growth will occur”.
Marcus says it is becoming more important that industry stays abreast of growth plans as well as labour and accommodation needs, with an annual capture of data required. “We can’t wait five years to update this information… We need to find a system where we can get the key outtakes of this information annually.”
Fruition undertook the Marlborough Labour Market Survey, with funding from Wine Marlborough, New Zealand Winegrowers, Marlborough District Council and Marlborough Research Centre. A summary will be released to members following its circulation and review by funders.
