Industry News

New World Wine Awards One of New Zealand’s largest wine competitions hit the road last month, to host a series of regional judging events. It was the first time in the New World Wine Awards’ 18-year history that judges visited major wine regions to taste more than 1,200 wines. The Marlborough judging was the largest of the four regional events, with well over 400 wines from Marlborough and Nelson assessed on July 22 and 23. Chair of judges Jim Harré says the judging team, made up of 18 independent wine experts from around the country, is delighted to see award entries exceed expectations and hold strong to previous records during such a challenging year for many businesses. “New Zealand’s wine industry is an incredibly important part of our economy, and like so many sectors, it has been working through a difficult period with many unknowns. It is encouraging to see such a significant number of local wineries, as well as many of our regular entrants from Australia and beyond, put their wines forward.”

Jim says the shift to regional events allows the judges to experience the distinctive styles and unique characteristics of wines grown in specific areas of the country. “We’ve continued to see big increases in Pinot Gris and Rosé entries in the awards, reflecting consumer demand and increasing production in New Zealand. “Interestingly, just a decade ago, neither of these were high on wineries’ or most wine drinkers’ radars, but both have skyrocketed in popularity since. Pinot Gris is now New Zealand’s third most produced white variety, and the rise of Rosé has experienced double-digit percentage growth in recent years with no signs of stopping.”

Stu Marfell. Photo Richard Briggs

Wine Marlborough Update VANCE KERSLAKE Changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) and new freshwater rules have thrown a spanner in the works for the Marlborough Environment Plan (MEP) appeals process. The Resource Management Amendment Act 2020 made significant changes to the RMA, including a new freshwater planning process. We are also awaiting the release of a new National Environmental Standard (NES) and National Policy Statement (NPS) on freshwater management. These may not be released before the election, but whenever they arrive both the NES and NPS will have to be incorporated into the MEP. The Environment Court process, which was already likely to take several years, could be delayed by these changes. Short term changes for temporary work visas, announced by the Government in July, did little to help vintage cellar hands stuck in Marlborough. Wine Marlborough is continuing to provide support and working with the Red Cross to make sure they are aware of the welfare support available. Two webinars in July outlined the challenges wineries will face with recruiting cellar hands for vintage 2021 (pg 10). Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme (RSE) repatriation flights continue to be a trickle rather than a flood and the mood is still cautiously optimistic that winter pruning will be completed on time. The next Marlborough Winegrowers meeting with the Marlborough District Council is on August 25. If you have any issues you want us to raise with council, email Vance Kerslake, advocacy manager, at advocacy@winemarlborough.nz Winepress Award Winepress magazine has won best magazine in the World of Wine category of the 25th Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2020. For the first time since the founding of the awards in 1995, organisers released the list of Best in the World winners before the awards ceremony, because of the impact of Covid-19 on international travel. “We decided that releasing the list now might make hundreds happier in these very difficult times,” says Edouard Cointreau, president and founder of the Gourmand Awards. Second position in the World of Wine magazine category went to the Journal of Wine Economics, in the United States, and third spot to Canada’s LCBO Food & Drink (Liquor Control Board Ontario).

New Zealand Winegrowers Election Key Dates • Nominations close - Friday August 14, noon • Members advised of all nominated candidates -

Monday, August 31 • Voting opens - Monday, September 14 • Voting closes -Friday September 25, noon • NZW board meeting -Thursday, October 8 (tbc)

Sydney Comp Cancelled The Sydney International Wine Competition has been cancelled for the first time in its 40 year history, says co-convenor Brett Ling. “We were on track to accept entries from later this month, but the worsening situation in Victoria is likely to see access between states and internationally to New Zealand and beyond severely disrupted.”

Jacksons Rd cycle trail As work kicks off on a new cycle trail along Jacksons Road, a wine tour operator is dreaming of a much bigger picture. Steve Hill of Wine Tours by Bike is also part of the Renwick Smart and Connected Bike-Walk Working Group, which has worked for seven years to create safe cycling corridors through wine country. Late last month work began on a 2-metre wide, 1.3 kilometre trail up Jacksons Rd, built on road reserve running between Rapaura Rd and Allan Scott Winery. The piece of trail is expected to be completed by the end of the month, and is the first stage in a five year plan to link together 13.5km of trails. Steve says wine companies Allan Scott, Pernod Ricard and Matua all helped make the Jacksons Rd trail work, but they also had plenty of solutions for the wider wine region, helping piece together a route between Jacksons Rd and Renwick, and from there to the Southern Valleys. The support from those companies and others on various parts of the route has been a “catalyst” he says. “Now we just need to find the funding.” Vine Testing Laboratory Hill Laboratories have expanded their viticulture testing capability with the acquisition of the assets of Vine Testing Laboratory (VTL), a specialised laboratory able to diagnose Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3). The new service will be provided from the company’s Blenheim laboratory, which is already focused on providing testing services for the wine and viticulture industries. Hill Laboratories chief executive Dr Jonno Hill says they are excited to add virus testing to the existing Vine to Vintage testing service. An agreement to purchase the assets of VTL was reached earlier this year between Ormond Nurseries and Villa Maria Estate, as part of Ormond Nurseries’ purchase of Villa Maria’s nursery. As part of this process, Ormond Nurseries general manager Marcus Wickham recognised that virus testing of grapevines is a specialised service. “Due to this specialisation, we’re pleased that we have been able to pass this onto Hill Laboratories, who already have specialised laboratory sites and personnel, and are truly independent.” The new service will be provided from Hill Laboratories’ Blenheim laboratory, which is already focused on providing testing services for the wine and viticulture industries. New Zealand grapevine nurseries are all routinely tested for GLRaV-3, as part of the certification process for the New Zealand Winegrowers Grafted Grapevine Standard. Hill Laboratories market sector manager (food and bioanalytical), Riaan Botha, says they are looking forward to continuing this service for New Zealand grapevine nurseries, and for any grape growers who are wanting to understand GLRaV-3 levels in their vineyards. “We already offer a number of testing opportunities for both wineries and vineyards, such as soil and petiole testing and residue testing in finished wines. By expanding our offering to include virus testing, our existing clients can take advantage of further opportunities to understand their overall vine health.” As part of the VTL acquisition, Hill Laboratories also intend to invest in research and development of wine sector testing methodologies. They are also looking at expanding to include testing for Grapevine leafroll-associated virus type 2 and 1, in addition to type 3. Hill Laboratories’ acquisition of VTL will be completed on September 1, 2020, and the laboratory will be up and running in time for the 2021 testing season.

Steve Hill

Dr Jonno Hill and Riaan Botha, Hill Labs

Satellite Spreading Smarter spreading of fertiliser will save companies money, improve soil condition and have better environmental outcomes, says Dillon Senior from Centaland. The company has just introduced a variable rate spreader that applies a fertiliser at a rate dictated electronically by a GPS soil map. “It kills two birds with one stone,” says Dillon, who sat in on one of the machine’s first runs and watched it change the output multiple times in one row, having received information from the soil map. “You get better results with less cost and less input. It’s a bit of a no brainer from my perspective.” The GPS soil mapping considers variation of soil in a field, so application matches requirements, rather than a flat rate across a block, he says. “This results is much more efficient use of inputs and increased take up in the soil.” Grower Richard Holdaway has used the system to spread gypsum on a block in Morgans Rd. “We have invested heavily in mapping and soil zone testing, and this system lets us put the product exactly where it’s needed, in the appropriate quantity,” he says. Dillon says he has had a positive response to the concept from clients despite the initial investment required of a soil map. “But once you have yearly data coming in, you have so much more power to make smarter decisions and save more money, which is very important to help ensure profitability during these times of market uncertainty.”