Marlborough 2019 Vintage Preview

Constellation harvest

Photo Jim Tannock

Vintage 2019

Harvest brings excellent quality wines in smaller volumes

SOPHIE PREECE

VINTAGE 2019’s lower-than-expected grape harvest will see a shortage of supply for the third year running, putting pressure on wine producers to meet market demand.

This year’s national grape harvest of 413,000 tonnes was down 1% on 2018 and a good chunk lower than the 450,000-plus tonnes predicted in New Zealand Winegrowers’ (NZW) pre-vintage survey. “Smaller vintages in 2017 and 2018 meant wineries had to work to manage product shortages, and many of our members hoped for a larger harvest this year,” NZW chief executive Philip Gregan told the Grape Days Marlborough audience last month. “Another smaller-thanexpected vintage will mean more supply and demand tension overall.”

The high quality of the harvest is good news for the industry as export growth continues, with an increase of 4% to $1.8 billion over the past year, he said. “We have an international reputation for premium quality and innovation. Every vintage is different, but winemakers are excited about the calibre of wine that will be delivered to the bottle and we are confident 2019 vintage wines will be enjoyed by consumers around the world.”

However, it did little to address cellar stocks depleted over the past two years, he said. Wine companies’ ability to draw down on stocks are diminishing, “but sales from the next 12 months are definitely going to be higher than what has been produced in this vintage”.

“Winemakers are excited about the calibre of wine that will be delivered to the bottle.” Philip Gregan

According to the NZW Vintage Survey 2019, the national Sauvignon Blanc crop was 5,583 tonnes higher than vintage 2018, but Pinot Noir dropped by 8,151 tonnes (23%) and Pinot Gris was 1,871 tonnes (8%) lower than 2018.

Marlborough made up 76.6% of the national harvest, with 305,467 tonnes of grapes harvested. The region’s Sauvignon Blanc harvest lifted by 1%, from 269,411 tonnes in 2018 to 272,334 tonnes in 2019. But the Chardonnay harvest dropped from 9,565 to 7,687, a decline of 1,878 tonnes or 20%, and Pinot Gris dropped 22% to 8,684 tonnes. Pinot Noir was hardest hit, with a 34% decline in crop to 12,338 tonnes.

Nautilus winemaker and NZW board member Clive Jones (see sidebox) says the constricted harvest will likely result in “a little bit less bulk wine traded” and companies looking more to the management of their stocks. “People will probably focus on their most supported and profitable markets… you might see less of the opportunistic deals going down, where you are taking a little bit of a punt,” he says. “You want to make sure you can supply those important markets.” The industry could be approaching a “tipping point” in terms of supply, he adds. “If we get another short vintage next year, I expect there will be a bit of a scramble.”

Marisco winery general manager Matthew Mitchell says crops were down between 15% and 20% on what they would consider normal, “across the board”. But it was the cleanest fruit they have seen since 2015 and quality was “fantastic” for all varieties, with Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir “outstanding”, he says.

They had typical production out of 2018, so will roll out the 2019 vintage slightly later to manage the lower crops this year. “So long as 2020 dials up at least an average, if not slightly above average, it will all be fine.” Matthew says there is enough product around that people can meet the market, “but there’s no doubt about it, we will go into the 2020 vintage with probably the lowest stock holdings we have had in many, many years.”

Regional Round Up

Harvest numbers may have been down for vintage 2019, but it was a “cracker of a season”, said viticulturist Matt Fox in a regional roundup at Grape Days. “For the first time in a little while it was nice to be able to pick when you wanted to rather than when you had to,” said the vineyard manager at Rapaura Springs’ Blind River vineyard.

The season began with good soil moisture and warm, even springtime temperatures, “upset at times with intermittent rainfalls” cooling the soil temperature. “Overall, bud burst was fairly even and spring growth saw a steady development, with only a few minor frost events occurring.”

Above average temperatures during the growing season provided strong, even growth leading into flowering, with low disease pressure seen by most. However, adverse weather events during flowering saw early varieties suffer. Sauvignon Blanc was struck by hen and chicken as a result, although the Awatere Valley had more favourable flowering conditions.

Extended hot and dry periods after flowering caused problems for some, with irrigation schemes shut off due to low river flows, said Matt. “Region-wide, this wreaked havoc as many blocks showed water stress and, in worst cases scenarios, caused vines to defoliate.”

Overall, comparing this season to the long-term average, harvest dates ranged from 4-14 days earlier, bunch weights were 60% to 80% of the long-term average and the lowest of the past five seasons, and total yield was between 60% and 80% of last year’s harvest, he said. “What this translates to, is a vintage that was a little more relaxed with exceptional quality all round,” he concluded. “Let there be many more seasons like this to come.”

Constellation harvest

Photo: Jim Tannock