WinePRO architects - Marcus Pickens, Wine Marlborough and Mark Unwin, Marlborough District Council
Lower Wairau Vineyard with 10 titles
75.5ha
This is a very rare opportunity to secure an iconic slice of Dillons Point Road. Established in 2003 from the Bay family dairy farm with deep fertile soils this property has been renowned for high Sauvignon Blanc production and extremely good quality fruit. This vineyard has been the jewel in the crown for the current vendor and is now surplus to their requirements as they move forward into a new phase of their business and succession within their company. Planted in 100% Sauvignon Blanc with a fiveyear average of 18.47 tonnes this property consistently performs and delivers, even in the less fruitful years. The property has a total of 10 different titles offering the purchaser plenty of options and scope for the future as a lifestyle subdivision or multiple party ownership.The property has a six-bedroom home, multiple sheds, staff facilities, purpose built grape marc bin and silage bin. Centrally located makes harvesting and associated logistics straight forward with short travel times to most Marlborough wineries. All enquiries will be treated with discretion and all viewings by appointment only. For further information please contact the exclusive listing agents Mike Poff and Charlie Fairhall McLean
027 665 5477
mike.poff@bayleys.co.nz
Charlie Fairhall McLean
027 346 1671
charlie.mclean@bayleys.co.nz
bayleys.co.nz/4135933
Dillons Point Road
Dillons Point
This massive event for wine and Marlborough attracted hundreds keen to see the latest technology and equipment, meet the suppliers and engage with industry experts
When it comes to replacing broken posts, which choice is best for your vineyard?
The NZ Winegrowers vintage update tells of a rollercoaster ride and all-round uncertainty
A high trellis system allowing sheep in the vines all year saves money on fuel, labour and fertilizer
Jayden Earea
Sheep all year
Vineyard posts
General Manager:
Marcus Pickens 03 577 9299 or 021 831 820 marcus@winemarlborough.nz
Advertising: Joanna May advertising@winemarlborough.nz
Grape Grower Directors: Andrew Nation nationa@gmail.com
Bryn Cotching breezemere@hotmail.com
Michiel Eradus michiel@eraduswines.co.nz
Nigel Sowman nigel@dogpoint.co.nz
Tracy Johnston tracy@dayvinleigh.co.nz
Wine Company Directors: Beth Forrest beth@forrest.co.nz
Damien Yvon damien@closhenri.com
Drew Ellis drew@mggcoop.co.nz
James Macdonald james@hunters.co.nz
Jamie Marfell Jamie.Marfell@pernod-ricard.com
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Disclaimer: The views and articles that are expressed and appear in Winepress are entirely those of contributors and in no way reflect the policy of the Marlborough Winegrowers. Any advice given, implied or suggested should be considered on its merits, and no responsibility can be taken for problems arising from the use of such information.
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From the Editor
I’M NOT a fan of buzzwords like “connection” and “collaboration” that roll off the tongue so easily but are a lot harder to put into action. I once had an editor whose mantra was “show, don’t tell”, by which he meant share stories, use reallife examples, don’t expect readers just to be told – in effect, give substance to buzzwords. And that’s what WinePRO achieved last month.
The three-day event in Blenheim proved to be a celebration and showcase for the wine industry. From Marlborough’s new players in agritech to recycling broken posts, there was something for everyone - grapegrowers, wineries, suppliers, service providers, investors and wine drinkers. The financial data isn’t in yet on what business was done, but anecdotally there’s been great feedback of people making connections, sharing ideas, seeing where the industry is going, and improving productivity for the region. Wine Marlborough is keen to keep the discussions going because understanding the broader picture benefits everyone in the industry.
We could have filled the whole magazine with WinePRO stories but it was held in the week the magazine goes to press so there’s a taster in this month’s magazine, with more to come in later issues.
In another example of collaboration, Wine Marlborough and Federated Farmers joined forces in the Marlborough District Council chamber in June to call for a longer-term view on water security for the whole region. “We need rivers for our wellbeing, our enjoyment, our survival and our livelihoods. Water is our insurance policy for the future,” said Beth Forrest, Marlborough Winegrowers chair as she advocated for a water resilience strategy that involves all users working together.
Sounds like a great topic for the next WinePRO conference.
BEV DOOLE
VANTAGE POINT
Think big for our water future
Marlborough Winegrowers and Federated Farmers call on Council to take a longer view on water security
RECENTLY THE Marlborough District Council sought submissions on the long-term plan for our region. While this deals with a 10-year horizon, discussions with viticulturists, wine companies, farmers and water users of Marlborough triggered our thoughts that it was time to think much bigger. Finding common ground with Federated Farmers and their outlook that ‘The future of Marlborough hinges on the availability and efficient use of water for us as a province’, we made a joint submission to Council to help secure the future of Marlborough’s water.
This region that we’re lucky enough to call home is a land of abundance and it is our duty to leave it in a better state than when we arrived. In the current climatic environment this is sometimes hard to fathom; what will this region look like for the next generation? Will grapes still dominate the landscape? How and where will our rivers flow and will they still support the freshwater ecological systems that they do today?
Nothing is certain in the future except that climate instability and extreme weather events will increase. NZ is getting less water when we need it and more when we don’t. We need a way to flatten out the curve of unruly and significant weather events to provide some stability and certainty of water supply for every user in Marlborough. While we as Marlborough Wine Growers and Federated Farmers require irrigation and stock water, we are first Marlburians, and the rivers and oceans of this place bring us home. We need them for our wellbeing, our enjoyment, our survival and our livelihoods. Water is our insurance policy for the future.
To continue to thrive we must start now to think about Marlborough’s long-term water capabilities. We don’t have the answers, but other councils are many years ahead of us with water resilience strategies for their regions. Our submission calls on Council to form a think-tank on a longterm water resilience policy for Marlborough. This is not a 10-year outlook but an opportunity to look 30-50 years ahead and start to create a strong, resilient and prosperous region. To get anywhere near this we need all users to have a voice; from the jet boaters and swimmers to the growers
“The future of Marlborough hinges on the availability and efficient use of water for us as a province.”
Beth Forrest, Marlborough Winegrowers chair and Evan White, Federated Farmers president
and farmers, we want everyone on board and moving in the same direction.
Water storage has a critical role to play when it comes to climate change resilience but there will be other benefits too like supporting land use change and increased production. We are lucky enough in New Zealand to have a volume of water that can provide sustainable energy generation, and sun and wind which can be harnessed to sustain our people and industries.
Perhaps water is the first part of our resilience plan, but can we use this as a basis to be the most sustainable region in New Zealand? If every product you grew, widget you built or wine you sold was truly sustainable the value proposition of our region becomes vibrant and successful whatever we’re growing in the future.
We asked Mayor Taylor and councillors, as the guardians of our region’s resources, to start this discussion and set up a think-tank. The first step is to get every water user together, find out what this region needs to remain resilient, and start to build a map or strategy for the future. We are not asking Council to fund anything at this stage but to support some big-picture thinking. If we can lay out what we need we can then form groups to investigate and create some options for water resilience.
There is amazing work being done throughout the world and here in NZ. It’s about finding these solutions, seeing where they fit in our future and constantly reassessing if this is fit for our purpose.
We can’t fix it all right now, but by working together we can lay a path and light the way for our region’s future.
TAKE THE LEAD
Learning from others
Matt Fox, viticulturist for Rapaura Springs and Summerhouse Wines, chairs the national committee for the Young Viticulturist of the Year and is a strong believer in encouraging young leaders
You won the national contest in 2013 – how has that shaped your views on leadership?
Being a part of Young Viticulturist from my very first competition has taught me a number of lessons and changed my take on leadership. My view on leadership has been continually evolving based on the network that has come from winning the competition. The competition is a great opportunity to learn from a wide range of leaders. It’s shown me that there are many different traits that make a great leader. I’d put honesty, integrity, decisiveness and good communication at the top.
Who is an industry leader you admire, and why?
I can’t think of just one person. I think we’re lucky to have so many, and it just so happens that a lot of them are past winners of Young Viticulturist of the Year. If you look at the list of previous winners, they’ve all gone on to be fantastic leaders throughout the industry. I admire all the current and previous winners because they have each contributed to improving our industry and they’re all great leaders at the top of their field. There are many others, but Jules Taylor and Erica Crawford come to mind. What those women have
achieved is huge, for themselves and our industry. They are gutsy, kind, smart and bloody hard working, they have developed devoted teams around them and are successful because they are great leaders.
What experiences in the vineyard apply to leadership too? I think that leadership applies to every aspect of any job in the vineyard, whether it’s from experiences I learnt on my first day on the job to what I’m learning now. To do a job properly and to do it well, there should be a level of leadership expressed in whatever task is being completed. For viticulture, a person who can demonstrate the key attributes of being a good leader will always be able to get a great result when working with their team. Having strong leadership throughout both viticulture and winemaking ensures that we can have greater success as an industry. Robust leaders who nurture and encourage others, such as Young Viticulturist contestants, is the best possible outcome for our sector.
Matt Fox
Table 1: Blenheim Weather Data – June 2024
Growing Degree Days Total
July 2023 to June 2024 – Max/Min1 July 2023 to June 2024
July 2023 to June 2024 (mm)
1GDD’s Max/Min are calculated from absolute daily maximum and minimum temperatures 2GDD’s Mean are calculated from average hourly temperatures 3GDD LTA = 1996-2023
Temperature
June’s mean temperature of 9.5°C was 0.7°C above the long-term average (LTA) temperature of 8.8°C. The maximum temperature was 20.1°C on 1 June; and minimum temperature was 1°C on 5 June. 19 days were above the average daily maximum temperature of 13.3°C and 22 days were above the average daily minimum of 2.8°C. Table 2 highlights the increasing minimum temperatures compared with the LTAs. Over the last few years, the June Met Reports have reported that June has undergone a significant warming trend over recent decades as seen in Figure 1. June 2024 continued this trend and was 12th warmest June on record for the 93 years 1932 to 2024. Eight of the 10 warmest Junes have occurred since 2002.
In the 12 months, July 2023 to June 2024, the mean temperature was 13.25°C (LTA is 13.25°C; 202223 was 13.92°C); 7 months recorded above average temperatures (July, September, November, December, January, February and June) and 5 months recorded below average temperatures (September, October, March, April and May).
Table 2: Weekly temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and wind-run recorded in Blenheim during June 2024
Frosts
Two ground frosts were recorded on 4 and 5 June but there were no air frosts for the month. Since 2019 the number of ground and air frosts for June have all been below the LTAs (11.4 and 4.7 respectively)
Rainfall
June’s rainfall was 69 mm, 106% of the LTA (64.9 mm). There were 10 days of rain that were greater or equal to 1 mm with the highest daily amount being 17.4 mm on 14 June. The overall result was that June had gentle and regular rain events. These have had a positive effect on the river flows around the district that are tracking near or above the mean flow levels (see www.hydro.marlborough.govt.nz/environmental). As a comparison, April 2024 got 72.2 mm but it was concentrated over three days (69.2 mm). The soil moisture has remained high for the month and was between 30% to 37%, with a maximum of 40.8% on 23 June (due to 16 mm of rain).
Figure 1: Mean air temperatures for June (1932 – 2024)
Figure 1: Mean air temperatures for June (1932 – 2024)
Rainfall for the 12 months July 2023 to June 2024
Total rainfall for the 12 months, July 2023 to June 2024, was 374.4 mm. This was 58% of the LTA (643.8 mm) and the third lowest July to June total on record for the 94 years 1930-31 to 2022-24. Only April and June recorded above average rainfall (Figure 2). July 2022 to June 2023 have been included in Figure 2 as a visual comparison between the two seasons. Despite the latter being 8th highest on record, only 6 of the 12 months recorded above average rainfall, with July 2022 recording the highest July rain event of 220.6 mm.
In the 12 months, July 2023 to June 2024, the mean temperature was 13.25°C (LTA 13.92°C); 7 months recorded above average temperatures (July, September, November, February and June) and 5 months recorded below average temperatures (September, and May).
Sunshine
Frosts
Blenheim recorded 113.1 hours sunshine for June, 75% of the LTA of 150.6 hours. Total sunshine for the first six months of 2024 was 1377.6 hours; 111% of the LTA (1241.8). Total sunshine for July 2023 to June 2024 was 2751 hours and is the second highest July to June total, after 2015-16 which recorded 2781 hours.
Wind
Two ground frosts were recorded on 4 and 5 June but there were no air frosts for number of ground and air frosts for June have all been below the LTAs (11.4 and 4.7
Rainfall
The average daily wind run for June 2024 was 167 km, which was 77% of the LTA. The average wind speed was 6.9 km/hr. All 12 months, July 2023 to June 2024, recorded below average wind-run. This is the second 12-month period in a row that has recorded below average wind for all the months. Marlborough’s wind run would appear to be declining.
June’s rainfall was 69 mm, 106% of the LTA (64.9 mm). There were 10 days of rain to 1 mm with the highest daily amount being 17.4 mm on 14 June. The overall result and regular rain events. These have had a positive effect on the river flows around the near or above the mean flow levels (see www.hydro.marlborough.govt.nz/environmental)
Figure 2: Blenheim monthly and annual rainfall for the 12 months July 2022 to June 2023 and June 2023 to June 2024 compared with the long-term average
Figure 2: Blenheim monthly and annual rainfall for the 12 months July 2022 to June 2023 and 2023 to June 2024 compared with the long-term average
Sunshine
Blenheim recorded 113.1 hours sunshine for June, 75% of the LTA of 150.6 hours. Total sunshine six months of 2024 was 1377.6 hours; 111% of the LTA (1241.8). Total sunshine for July 2023 to was 2751 hours and is the second highest July to June total, after 2015-16 which recorded 2781 hours
Victoria Raw - Plant & Food Research
Funded by the Marlborough Research Centre
Wind
The average daily wind run for June 2024 was 167 km, which was 77% of the LTA. The average was 6.9 km/hr. All 12 months, July 2023 to June 2024, recorded below average wind-run. This is 12-month period in a row that has recorded below average wind for all the months. Marlborough’s would appear to be declining
Victoria Raw - Plant & Food Research
Funded by the Marlborough Research Centre
Pick of the posts
Steel, wood, recycled plastic or a combination are on offer to replace broken vineyard posts. But which choice is the best for your vineyard?
BEV DOOLE
THE LONG walk down vineyard rows to stop and check every wooden post for cracks or breakages is well under way. It’s time consuming and labour intensive and with estimates of more than 600,000 posts in Marlborough to be replaced and disposed of each year there’s also a significant cost to winegrowers.
This year’s drought hasn’t helped. “Some vineyards have had a 50% increase in breakages compared to 2023 because the dry season means there’s less give in the ground when the machinery goes through,” says Kerry Hammond, viticulturist for Sheridan Contracting.
Wooden posts are treated with a preservative containing copper, chromium and arsenic (CCA), which makes disposal difficult when they break or come to the end of life. For many years broken posts were stockpiled on vineyards, waiting for a solution to emerge. Marlborough company Repost have became part of that solution with their operation to trim up broken posts and sell for farm fencing. Repost charges the vineyard up to $2 a post –less than the cost of sending it to landfill – but 5-10% still goes to landfill as off-cuts.
“There’s definitely a growing understanding about moving away from CCA-treated posts for environmental and cost reasons,” says Kerry. “It’s about $55 to put in a replacement wooden post – buying it, paying labour to remove the old one, put in the new one, and dispose of the old post. And there’s still the risk of breakage.” He estimates about 40% of replacement posts being installed by Sheridan Contracting are alternatives. It’s creating a patchwork in vineyards as wooden posts are replaced by metal or plastic and is helping the NZ wine industry reach its goal of zero waste to landfill by 2050.
Dr Ed Massey, NZ Winegrowers general manager sustainability, says there’s a lot to weigh up when it comes to alternative vineyard posts. “The NZW environment
strategy has six focus areas: waste, climate change, plant protection, soil, water and people. Business decisions might have positive impacts in one of those focus areas but less positive impacts on another.
“If you took a solely climate-change based approach, wooden posts would be a good option because wood is a really good carbon store. However if you took a waste focus, it’s a different story. Treated wooden posts are more difficult to consider at the end of life,” says Ed. “Steel posts don’t break, they’re potentially recyclable but from a climatechange point of view they’re emissions-heavy to produce and recycle. Plastic posts are great for turning waste plastic into a valuable resource but they don’t have the carbonstorage benefits of wood.”
Decisions around vineyard posts involve weighing up environmental, financial and safety considerations. However, whatever decision is made in the vineyard also needs to consider the growing demand from the market for environmental accountability including reduced carbon emissions, reduced chemical use and zero waste to landfill. “There’s no silver bullet when it comes to finding the ideal vineyard post,” says Ed. “They all have their pros and cons and it’s important that growers consider all the information before deciding what’s right for them.”
So what are the options on the market?
Steel
posts
Steel is gaining popularity as a replacement for broken wooden posts because it is stronger, lighter and easier to handle through the wires and canes of the vineyard.
Tracey Marshall, Sustainability Manager for Pernod Ricard Winemakers NZ, says weight was a key factor for the company when choosing to replace treated wood with Eco Trellis steel posts. “While other alternatives to CCA posts are available, their weight is a primary concern. Manual handling is the second highest contributor to lost time accidents, and our goal is zero harm,” says Tracey. Steel posts were also preferred after assessing overall environmental impact, including disposing of CCA-treated posts and working towards zero waste to landfill. “The only negative impact compared to treated wood are the higher carbon emissions to manufacture and recycle steel,” says Tracey. “The strength and consistency of steel is another benefit, especially with increasing automation in the vineyard.”
Steel repair kit
Ocloc V is a steel repair kit that prolongs the life of a damaged wooden post. The 1.05m galvanised stake is rammed down alongside the post and then screwed on to provide ongoing support, like a splint on a broken leg. Made in Australia, Ocloc V is new to Marlborough but early adopters praise the cost, time and environmental advantages of repairing, rather than replacing. HFT Vineyards owner Chris Hammond is trying Ocloc out for the first time this winter. “I was looking for a solution to
my pile of broken posts getting bigger and bigger. Ocloc is much cheaper and quicker than putting in a new wooden post. I’ve repaired 700 posts and am impressed so far - we use a hand-held post rammer and it only takes about three minutes per post. We’ve put it on cracked posts as well as ones that are broken above the ground, as long as the edges can knit together.”
Plastic posts
Diverting irrigation pipe and plastic grow guards away from landfill and turning them into vineyard posts is a strong selling point for Future Post. The plastic posts, made in Blenheim, are described as “awesome” by Mark Lucas, solid waste manager for Marlborough District Council. “My job is to keep stuff out of landfill. Future Post is solving two big issues for me – they’re recycling soft and hard plastic as well as providing an alternative to treated wooden posts.” Jeremy Dennis, Utawai vineyard manager, has been replacing broken wooden posts with Future Post for about four years. “It does what I want a post to do – they don’t break, the round shape means there’s always an outside edge to put clips in, and the nails and clips don’t fall out the way they do with wooden posts. Future Post is heavier than wood, but we manage with a post driver on the back of the tractor.” Jeremy is used to the posts flexing in hot sun until the plastic has hardened off. “It’s never been a problem for vineyard work. The posts keep their strength, we’ve had no breakages and it’s great to be reusing plastic instead of dumping it.”
Untreated wood coated with plastic
“There’s no silver bullet when it comes to finding the ideal vineyard post.” Dr Ed Massey
Australian company Woodshield has been supplying Marlborough vineyards for nearly 20 years with untreated timber posts encased in a coating of recycled plastic. Nigel Sowman, viticulturist at Dog Point Vineyard, says it’s a good option for their organic vineyards as they work to replace chemically treated wooden posts. “Our vineyards are quite old and we have a multitude of different trellising configurations. Woodshield is much lighter and easier to handle than a CCA-treated post. It fits into an established trellis and best of all we can put nails and staples in where
Ocloc V acts like a splint on a broken post
suits us. We’re getting the strength of wood without the chemical treatment, they store carbon, and the plastic is made of recycled irrigation pipe. The main downside is the posts don’t have a pointy end but they slot in easily where there’s already a hole in the ground and they’re lasting well.” When it comes to end of life, the plastic outer can be peeled off and recycled, while the wooden core is reusable as chipped-up mulch, firewood or biochar.
CCA treated wood
Treated wooden posts are the backbone of the Marlborough wine industry – they were the first to be used and are still prevalent throughout vineyards, old and new. Radiata pine is grown and milled in the top of the South and provides an ongoing carbon store as vineyard posts. A key issue is disposing of broken posts. Repost’s work to turn them into fence posts is making a difference but those that end up in landfill take up a lot of space because they can’t be compacted. Once the post finally breaks down, the CCA is confined in the fully lined landfill but Council is charged for greenhouse gas emissions as the post decomposes. “We are trying to cut down on everything going into landfill because new landfill space is very expensive to build,” says Mark Lucas. “There is potential for energy plants to burn treated wood or use it as biofuel instead of coal but we haven’t got there yet in Marlborough.”
In the meantime, grower and vineyard consultant Dominic Pecchenino is sticking with wood for replacement posts: “The half round CCA-treated post is doing the job for us – it’s what we’ve had from the start and keeps us uniform and consistent. My broken posts get a second life for fencing on farms.”
Gold Pine $12-$25
“The CCA-treated post is doing the job for us – it’s what we’ve had from the start and keeps the vineyard uniform and consistent.”
Dominic Pecchenino, vineyard consultant
Eco Trellis $16-$21
“Steel posts were preferred after assessing overall environmental impact, including disposal of CCA-treated posts.”
Tracey Marshall, Pernod Ricard Winemakers NZ
Ocloc V $16.10
“Ocloc is much cheaper and quicker than putting in a new wooden post, it only takes about three minutes to repair each post.”
Chris Hammond, HFT Vineyards
Woodshield $21.25
“We’re getting the strength of wood without the chemical treatment, they store carbon, and the plastic is made of recycled irrigation pipe.”
Nigel Sowman, Dog Point Vineyard
Future Post $22-$24
“We drop off our irrigation pipe and grow guards to Future Post. It’s great to be reusing plastic in our posts instead of dumping it.”
Jeremy Dennis, Utuwai Vineyard
The price per post excludes GST. Pricing was provided by the supplier and may reduce depending on the size of the order.
Repost cuts down broken CCA vineyard posts for farm fencing
Wooden post without CCA
Kaituna Sawmill seeks growers to test a new treated vineyard post
ONE FORTY ONE Kaituna Sawmill is trialling a square intermediate vineyard post that has been treated with a preservative that doesn’t contain chromium and arsenic. Micronised Copper Azole (MCA) is a copper-based wood preservative already approved and used in the building industry, says Sam Lees, Kaituna Sawmill sales manager.
“About 20 years ago the Americans legislated against CCA for residential building. That led to the development of MCA H4, a more environmentally responsible treatment that enables more disposal options. MCA H4 is already in the NZ building code but cost is the reason it’s not more widespread,” says Sam.
“Kaituna vineyard posts are lighter and easier to stack and transport but the main benefit would be disposal at end of life. Subject to getting resource consent, the sawmill would take back the posts and burn them in the boilers that
fuel the drying kilns for the next cycle of vineyard posts.”
The posts are made from pinus radiata grown in the Nelson Marlborough region. They are mainly cut from sapwood for its strength, flexibility and ease of treatment. Once treated with microscopic copper particles the posts are kiln dried to between 10-11kgs. Kaituna Sawmill is already supplying MCA H4 90mm x 90mm posts for construction and landscaping in Australia and New Zealand, so product performance has been tested, Sam says. It is now being trialled for vineyards in Marlborough. “We’re still in the introductory phase for testing driveability into different soils and we’re looking for growers to partner with who see value in what we’re trying to achieve.”
Contact sam.lees@onefortyone.co.nz if you’re interested in taking part in the MCA vineyard post trial.
Better Biology
Better Wine
For strong vines, consistent yields and better tasting wines*apply:
Mycorrcin – to boost soil microbes that increase root growth and nutrient uptake
Foliacin – to improve foliar health and resilience in times of environmental stress
Digester – to stimulate decomposition microbes to recycle organic matter fast
*Asusedin2021AccoladeWinestrial for provenyieldincreaseandbettertastingwine.
from
Sam Lees and the MCA H4 vineyard posts
BEV DOOLE
Grow your own
Winegrowers are urged to plant eucalypts to source durable untreated posts
PENNY WARDLE
MARLBOROUGH FORESTER Paul Millen is encouraging vineyard managers to grow their own eucalyptus trees to make chemical-free vineyard posts. For 21 years the New Zealand Dryland Forests Initiative (NZDFI) manager has championed research into ground-durable eucalypt as an alternative to pine treated with copper, chromium and arsenic (CCA).
‘Eucalypts could boost carbon sequestration and provide a regional supply of durable posts.’
Paul Millen
timber and bioenergy. This was while offsetting emissions for winemaking and other Marlborough industries.
Paul says up to 5% of CCA-treated posts break and need to be disposed of each year. Plus, as vineyards are routinely replanted to maintain grape yields, more posts are being removed and replaced. “Marlborough vineyards alone span 31,000 hectares, containing more than 19 million posts predominately made from treated radiata pine,” says Paul. “Planting eucalypts could boost carbon sequestration and provide a sustainable regional supply of naturally durable posts and other timber, as well as biomass to supply solid biofuel to the wine sector.”
NZDFI has developed a Marlborough case study on how investment in planting durable eucalypts could contribute to farm and forest diversification, improve wine industry sustainability, create jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region. Paul wants to see at least 5000ha of eucalypts growing in Marlborough as well as two new mills processing posts, sawn timber and biofuel. “This could generate $90m in annual GDP,” he says.
The NZDFI research is now at a point where orders are being taken for eucalypt seedlings, genetically selected to grow on dryland sites and produce ground-durable hardwood.
NZDFI is a partnership between Millen’s Vineyard Timbers company, the Marlborough Research Centre, the University of Canterbury and Proseed New Zealand. Gerald Hope, former MRC chief executive, has described CCAtreated posts as the “thorn in the side” of the wine industry, which is aiming for zero waste to landfill by 2050.
Paul says $3.8m of Government funding supported NZDFI scientific trials that focused on growing eucalypts in dry east coast New Zealand. Based on results, the Ministry for Primary Industries backed an NZDFI-led study of how eucalypt forests could sustainably supply durable posts,
Last year the NZ Dryland Forests Initiative evolved to become NZ Dryland Forests Innovation and a separate company, XyloGene, was established to handle seedling sales. Royalties on sales would be spent on further research More information on the NZDFI research: nzdfi.org.nz
Field day at the Pukaka Valley trial plot
WinePRO teamwork
Collaboration and connections are at the forefront as industry gathers for trade show
BEV DOOLE
WINEPRO WAS a big event on many accounts – New Zealand’s biggest wine trade show, with big ideas discussed at the speaker conference and big connections made throughout the industry and beyond. It was also the biggest collaboration between Marlborough District Council and Wine Marlborough, ignited by the Council’s 2022 Economic Wellbeing Strategy that took a hard look at the strengths of the region and what is needed to make it grow. “One of the goals of the strategy is for Marlborough to be a leading agritech region,” says Mark Unwin, economic development programmes manager at MDC. “But you can’t be what you can’t see – we need to show what is being done in Marlborough and celebrate that.”
The three days of WinePRO at the end of June became such a showcase, attracting more than 100 wine industry suppliers and innovators to the trade show and about 290 people to the conference programme. “That combination worked really well,” says Mark. “You got the flywheel effect of people being with each other in the same location, seeing and hearing what was on show, and building collaboration along with it.”
Wine Marlborough general manager Marcus Pickens says having on-the-ground practicality alongside futurefocused speakers was a good formula. “The mix of topics was important. We were balancing issues of the here and now, like vineyard redevelopment, with thinking about the longer term, such as workforce and demographic changes.”
It was also an opportunity to see the industry from an outside perspective, says Marcus. “Inside the industry we’re quite pessimistic about the next 12-24 months. But having some external commentators praising what we’ve done, where we’re going and painting a brighter future as long as we proceed carefully, was important because we’re all feeling under pressure at the moment.”
Speakers such as independent analyst John Wilson highlighted that the past rapid growth by the wine industry is probably not going to be there in the medium term, and that needs to be managed, says Marcus. “We can’t just pull levers and say don’t plant any more, but we need to send the message that there hasn’t been an increase in consumption since 2020. And that’s something to be very careful about. We can’t just grow something and expect to sell it. We’ve actually got to grow value in the future.”
As for the value of WinePRO? It has exceeded the expectations of those driving it. “WinePRO was a brilliant test case for collaboration and what can be achieved. It would not have happened without Council,” says Marcus. “It was a true partnership, with Council supporting financially as well as getting involved in the mahi. Wine Marlborough is tiny in terms of staff and resources but we can work together well.”
Marcus Pickens, Wine Marlborough and Mark Unwin, MDC
PHOTO
TANNOCK
We need to talk about climate change
We’re already seeing the effects of warmer temperatures so what happens next?
CATHIE BELL
CLIMATE SCIENTIST Jim Salinger, who was 2024 KiwiBank New Zealander of the Year, says he is shocked at the lack of discussion around the effects of climate change on vineyard health and wine quality.
He told participants at WinePRO that temperature data from the 1960s to 2020 showed that Blenheim had become 1.5C degrees warmer over that time. This was affecting the timing of key viticulture milestones – he says budburst is about eight days earlier, veraison 14 days earlier, and fruit ripening to 20 brix was about 16 days earlier. “The first part of the season is telescoping in. It’s not so much in the rest of the season, but we are seeing significant change in the viticultural environment.” This means it could be “goodbye Sauvignon Blanc, hello Merlot” for Marlborough as increased temperatures due to climate change move growing zones down the country, Jim says. “Climate change will present huge challenges to viticulture in the future, and the primary threats are increasing drought, pests and diseases.” However, he is optimistic that these can be managed through irrigation, crop management techniques and new varieties. By 2090, temperatures are predicted to be up to 3C wamer. “You’re not talking Sauvignon Blanc in Marlborough at all. You’re going to make a warm wine style.” The country’s long thin geography is a good thing because it gives us options, Jim says. “The big advantage for New Zealand is that we have a wide latitude range and we can use it... We’re totally free to try new varieties in
‘Climate challenges can be managed through irrigation, crop management and new varieties.’
Jim Salinger
regions. There is a lot you can do with pruning and crop management to adapt and ultilise those new opportunities.”
Diversifying the vines in each vineyard could also help, enabling growers to hedge their bets so that when one variety doesn’t perform, others can make up for it. Vineyard practices could include reducing canopy size and planting varieties that need less irrigation and have tighter stomata control. There is different management of the root stock to encourage it to spread out, such as decreasing vine density so the roots go bigger, and the vines can better seek out water. “Choose high vigour, drought resilient root stock. It might be time for a better root stock than 3309.”
Some viticulturalists are more relaxed about climate change because they say Sauvignon Blanc vines tend to be more forgiving than other varieties. Jim says that while “goodbye Sauvignon Blanc, hello Merlot” is a bit of a cheeky quip, there needs to be more discussion in the industry about climate change. “The temperatures are warming. It’s just a question of where and how much.”
PHOTO: RICHARD BRIGGS
VIEWS FROM WINEPRO
Robert Trought, Delegat
“It was good to see new service providers, who wouldn’t ordinarily come to Marlborough, along with new technologies and suppliers all in one place. And I liked the wide range of speakers.”
Dorien Vermaas, Marlborough District Council
“After going to many sessions, I think new technology is not all about reducing labour. It’s also about using technologies to be more precise, leave healthier soils, reduce the carbon footprint.”
Josh McCulloch, Autonabit
“It’s exciting to see the number of experimental autonomous platforms increasing. Wine companies and research organisations are working together to develop many new technologies.”
Liam Garlick, Repost
“I had a good look around the site and was interested to see the new robotic technology that’s getting going. Labour is such a nightmare, it’s good the industry’s planning for the future.”
Paul Matung, Nuala Wines
“I learned a lot from speaker David Downs of the New Zealand Story. I travel a lot promoting New Zealand wine and now I have more facts and insights to share.”
Stuart Dudley, End Point Viticulture
“The information on the economic outlook was really good for a more global perspective, and having NZTE there giving an understanding of why things are the way they are.”
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MARLBOROUGH 113 Renners Road, Lower Dashwood
Large Scale Vineyard Opportunity.....
A large-scale vineyard opportunity situated in the Lower Dashwood. All planted in the iconic Sauvignon Blanc, this vineyard consists of 57ha and offers a great opportunity to enter or expand in the wine industry. Five titles in three lots all contract free.
Block ‘A’
Consisting of 32ha of which 24 ha of canopy area. All Sauvignon Blanc and watered from its own bore with a storage dam. There is a stunning elevated building site.
Block ‘B’
Consisting of 9.2ha bare land situated between block ‘A’ and block ‘C’. There is development potential.
Block ‘C’
Consisting of 15ha of which 13ha canopy area. ‘A Class’ water with storage dam.
An outstanding opportunity to purchase a large vineyard holding in a popular location. The Awatere Valley is renowned for quality fruit producing stunning flavours. Contact Ken for further information.
DEADLINE SALE
Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior)
CLOSES
3.00pm, Thursday 18 July 20 Westwood Ave, Blenheim
VIEW
By appointment only
Ken McLeod
M 027 433 4746 E kmcleod@pggwrightson.co.nz
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Riding the rollercoaster
The vintage update at Grape Days highlights all-round uncertainty
PENNY WARDLE
“IS THIS the new normal?” Philip Gregan, New Zealand Winegrowers CEO, asked delegates at the Grape Days presentations in Blenheim. Philip says he had no idea what to expect after a rollercoaster three to four years.
Giving his vintage update 2024 last month, he said volatility had tested the industry since 2020, reflecting what was happening overseas. From 2010-2020, steady growth reflected strong demand for New Zealand wine and a high degree of stability. “But since Covid things have been a real rollercoaster which is testing the industry,” Philip says.
‘Consumers are cutting spending, demand for wine is flat to declining, and costs are up.’
Despite a record 42,000-43,000 ha vineyard area, this year’s 395,000 tonne harvest was the third smallest in 10 years, down 21% on 2023. Yields averaged 9.3 tonnes/ha. Markets were “solid, not spectacular”. United States sales were up a modest 1.7% on volume and 4.7% on value, the UK 3% and 7.2%, and Canada 1.7% and 4%. In New Zealand and Australia, wine sales dropped 3.9% and 2.3% respectively and value fell 2.2% and 2.1%.
Previously steady GDP was chaotic in 2020 and anaemic in 2022-23, he says. This impacted customer spend with hospitality especially hard hit in New Zealand and offshore. Leading into 2020, annual inflation was mostly under 2% but since March 2021 there had been a huge spike not seen in 30 years. The Reserve Bank had increased interest rates to drive inflation down while the cost of growing grapes had risen much more than the consumer price index (CPI), says Philip.
Wine consumption was flat to falling in New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Canada. Competition from other beverages, a health and wellness trend, aging baby boomers and migrants from non-wine-consuming countries contributed to the drop. Plus, Government regulation and taxes, like excise tax, impacted consumption, he says.
“At the same time as we have had uncertain market conditions and declining wine consumption, our vintages seem to have got very variable in New Zealand.” Vintage 2022 and 2023 – New Zealand’s two largest ever harvests – were sandwiched between vintage 2021 and 2024, two of the three lowest yielding in the past 10 years. The 2021 crop fell 15% on volume but only 3% on value, scoring the
Philip Gregan
industry some gains. In 2022 the harvest increased and with wine in short supply with strong demand, exports lifted 21% and value 27%. Then, unexpectedly, in the middle of last year exports dropped 17% on volume and 15% on value, bottoming out in January. “That created a huge degree of consternation in the wine industry because it’s not something we’ve experienced in 10 years. We had supply but our exports were declining,” Philip said.
“Where does that leave us short term? Economic conditions are tough. Consumers are cutting spending. Demand for wine overall is flat to declining. Costs are up and there’s an incredible degree of uncertainty about what’s going to happen in the year ahead.” He could not predict whether the rollercoaster would go up or down but 50 million litres of wine from vintage 2023 was still unsold, impacting profitability and cashflow. “The big question is how much are sales going to grow in the next 12 months and then, of course, how big is vintage 2025?”
Marlborough production 2024, and change from 2023
PHOTO: RICHARD BRIGGS
Aim high
A
raised trellis system allows yearround vineyard grazing and savings on mowing
and fertilizer
BEV DOOLE
SHEEP ARE a familiar sight in Marlborough vineyards in winter to keep the grass down, but how about deploying them throughout the year to also graze weeds, remove suckers and apply fertilizer through manure?
That’s what viticulturist Kelly Mulville from Paicines Ranch in California is doing to reduce costs, improve yields and increase biodiversity on the ranch’s 10ha vineyard. He shared his experience with Marlborough winegrowers and farmers at a workshop last month, hosted by Organic Winegrowers NZ and Horticentre Charitable Trust.
His sheep are run for several days per block before being moved on. This gives them time to feed on grass, cover crops and undervine without over-grazing. Meanwhile their urine and manure enriches the soil without the compaction and fuel costs of a tractor.
The key issue is to grow the canopy and grapes beyond the reach of the sheep. He uses a high trellis with the fruiting wire at 168cm. Vines are grown on taller rootstock, and canes are trained on to a V-frame at about 45 degrees (depending on how much sun exposure is wanted). “This allows airflow and reduces mildew pressure, provides shade on the vineyard floor to protect soil biology, stock and workers, and improves water holding capacity of the vineyard soils at a time when drought is becoming the norm,” says Kelly.
“It’s a regenerative farming system that encourages biodiversity in the vineyard. The more soil cover, the more absorption of minerals because manure sitting on plants will be cycled back down through the roots into the soil. And more plant diversity means more beneficial insects
“Vineyard vegetation becomes a valuable resource rather than a problem to be controlled.”
Kelly Mullville
are attracted into the vineyard.” A high trellis trial showed how cultivation and mowing could be eliminated, irrigation reduced by 80-90% and yield increased by 30%, says Kelly. “All vineyard vegetation becomes a valuable resource rather than a problem to be controlled.”
The model resonated with João Corbett, viticulturist at Loveblock Vineyards in the Awatere Valley: “We have some land that we’re looking at redeveloping and this could be a great opportunity to try something like the high trellis.
“We’re not just a vineyard. We have paddocks, we have livestock, we’re actually a farm so it could work very well. The regenerative viticulture approach is that those swards need to grow, they need to flower and seed. The animals come and eat a percentage of it, and then they’re moved on. They’re not overgrazing, they’re not compacting, they’re not over-depositing urine and manure. There’s just the perfect balance of animal and vineyard.”
I'VE BEEN THINKING
Being grateful
In a new series, members of the Marlborough Winegrowers Board share some thoughts
Andrew Nation, grape grower representative and owner of Hollowpoint farm and vineyard.
WITH HARVEST down a fair bit this year, I’ve been grafting away in our vineyard after work and in the weekends doing the pruning. It makes me think about all the RSE vineyard workers who’re out there in all weather, at all times of the day. It’s very physical, repetitive work, day in and day out, and I have huge admiration for them. I hate to think what we would do without the RSE crews.
They’re a massive benefit to the wider winegrowing community in Marlborough, and from what I understand it’s a big help for their lives and their families back home.
The workers come to Marlborough for seven or nine months, putting in as many hours as they can so they can send money and goods back home, save to build a house, maybe start a business, and lead a better life. But it’s a massive commitment from the RSE workers to leave their families and come here. And I’m grateful to them for that.
Marlborough Winegrowers Board election
The Marlborough Winegrowers Board represents the grape growers and wine companies of the region and sets the strategic direction for Wine Marlborough. The board is made up of five wine company and five grape grower representatives who are elected for a three-year term. Elections are held annually and nominations open in August for positions that become open due to rotation. Being on the board is a good opportunity to find out how the industry ticks and to gain experience in governance and leadership. The board meets at least six times a year and strives to have a range of skills and diversity of views around the table to ensure the industry is well represented. For election information contact Marcus Pickens, Wine Marlborough general manager, marcus@winemarlborough.nz Ph 021 831 820
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GENERATION Y-INE
From wine to vine
Bar work in top restaurants eventually led Jayden Earea to the Seresin vineyard
KAT PICKFORD
LONG BEFORE Jayden Earea arrived in Marlborough to start working on the production-side of wine, he learned about the region’s flagship Sauvignon Blanc as a bar manager in some of Sydney’s swankiest restaurants.
Jayden hadn’t decided on a career path after finishing high school in Auckland, so he did a diploma in hospitality with the intention of becoming a bartender while he pondered his options. To begin with, he worked at a series of nightclubs and restaurants including The Carpark and Kermadec in Viaduct Harbour, the hospitality hub at the heart of Auckland’s waterfront.
It wasn’t until he picked up a job at the lauded Japanese eatery MASU in SkyCity, that he began to understand alcohol at a deeper level. “I really enjoy the social aspect of hospitality, but at MASU I started to learn that alcohol was so much more than a drink,” he says. “At its essence, alcohol is an expression of flavour characteristics that represent the culture, history and people that produce them.”
Wanting to deepen his understanding he moved to Sydney and worked his way through a number of highly acclaimed restaurants, including Mercado, where he become a bar manager.
“It was a great restaurant with really good people, and with their encouragement I changed direction and shifted into bar management, putting drinks lists together, ordering and stocking beverages and from there I got into wine.”
The endless expressions of wine intrigued him. “Every bottle of beer or spirits tastes the same every time — the goal is literally to make the same product every time,” he says.
“Wine is never the same, the next vintage will always be different, every region has its own unique characteristics, and every winemaker has their own philosophy and approach in the vineyard.” From there his deep dive into wine began. When the “magic” of hospitality began to wear thin, he decided to investigate the production side of wine and picked up a job as a cellar hand for Pernod Ricard Winemakers in Marlborough for the 2020 vintage.
During the tumultuous Covid years of international border closures and lockdowns, returning to Sydney was out of the question so Jayden decided to stay put in Marlborough with a full time position at Pernod Ricard Winemakers. A year ago he embarked on a bachelor of
“It’s awesome to be working right at the start of the wine’s journey.”
Jayden Earea
viticulture and winemaking through Te Pūkenga/NMIT, studying part-time while continuing his work in the winery.
Six months into his study, realising all wine begins in the vineyard, he felt compelled to shift from winemaking to viticulture and successfully applied for a full-time vineyardhand role at Seresin Estate.
“I recognised the brand, which was in about half the restaurants I’d worked in,” he says. “It’s got a great reputation and ticks a lot of boxes in terms of its sustainability and approachability and pairs beautifully with a wide range of foods - the Chiaroscuro for example is a fantastic match with Asian-fusion flavours.” While he’s only been in the vineyard since February, the 33-year-old is enjoying the contrast of manual labour and working outdoors.
“It’s awesome to be working right at the start of the wine’s journey, understanding the cycles, seeing the seasonal changes in the vineyard and how the weather and soils affect the flavour profiles of the fruit. I’m not sure if I’ll remain in the vineyard forever, but right now it’s exactly where I want to be.”
BIOSECURITY WATCH
A risky business
When it comes
to importing,
playing
by
the rules is more than just a legal obligation
SOPHIE BADLAND
EVERY NOW and then the media highlight the prosecution of people who have smuggled illegal plant or animal material into New Zealand, bypassing the border and quarantine protection required by the Biosecurity Act 1993. The scary fact is that these stories put the spotlight only on those who get caught, when the problem is likely to be more widespread than it seems.
The system to legally import plants doesn’t help the situation because it is slow-moving, expensive and often frustrating for importers to navigate. However, illegal importation brings with it a whole suite of environmental, economic and personal risks as well as potentially wideranging impacts across primary sectors. Adhering to biosecurity regulations is not just a legal obligation, but a crucial responsibility for all of us who care about New Zealand’s future. We are fortunate to remain free of many exotic pests and diseases that plague other countries but illegal smuggling of plant and animal material puts this at risk.
Pests and diseases often can’t be seen
Plants and animals are vulnerable to attack by pests and diseases. Some pests, such as insects on plant material, can be seen with the naked eye, but there are also many microscopic pests (such as mites) that cannot. Diseasecausing agents such as viruses and bacteria are generally unable to be seen, and in the absence of symptoms in the plant they are impossible to detect without diagnostic testing. Often the expression of symptoms is seasonal, especially in plants such as grapevines which are dormant
over winter. This means there is a reasonable risk that an untested, illegally imported plant could carry pests or disease, even if it looks healthy at the time it is taken.
Many pests and diseases are not confined to just one crop, therefore illegally imported material could put multiple productive sectors at risk of a damaging and expensive biosecurity incursion, as well as New Zealand’s natural environment and taonga species. Many pests and diseases have been documented to expand their range when arriving in a new area as they encounter new suitable hosts; for example, Xylella fastidiosa, the causal agent of Pierce’s disease affecting wine grapes, currently has its database updated every six months as it spreads around the world and is found infecting new hosts.
Plant Importation System
To legally bring material into New Zealand for planting, importers must comply with the Import Health Standards enforced by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). These standards outline the measures required to mitigate the biosecurity risks associated with bringing in plant material from overseas. Measures generally include preimport documentation and declarations from the exporting facility, diagnostic testing before and/or on arrival, a period of quarantine in an approved facility once in New Zealand, and treatment or destruction if an unwanted pest or disease is found in the plants. It can be a long and expensive process to get material through this system, which can be frustrating, but the result is plants that are healthy and very low risk. Information about importing plant material is on
BIOSECURITY WATCH
the MPI website: mpi.govt.nz/import/plants-flowers-seedsplant-growing-products/
Penalties for illegal importing
Illegally importing plant or animal material into New Zealand is an offence under section 154O of the Biosecurity Act 1993. The maximum penalty for an individual is a prison term of five years and a $100,000 fine. The maximum penalty for a corporation is $200,000. Some examples over recent years include an Auckland student who was fined $15,000 for the attempted illegal importation of banned reptiles (the package was intercepted by MPI officials at the Auckland Mail Centre as part of an investigation); an Auckland woman who was sentenced to 12 months intensive supervision and 100 hours community work for attempting to smuggle cacti and succulents on stockings strapped to her body; and most recently the winemaker fined $15,000 and sentenced to five months community detention for smuggling grapevine material into New Zealand in his suitcase. These cases are usually considered of high enough public interest to appear in mainstream media. Details of the offending are publicly available for a long time after the prosecution and this can have a damaging impact on the credibility and reputation of the offender.
Report illegal importation
New Zealand has a strong and effective border biosecurity system which, along with pre-border measures, largely mitigates the biosecurity risk from unwanted pests and diseases. However, with the huge volume of goods, containers and travellers crossing the border every day it is impossible to catch everything. Deliberately concealing goods can also make it more difficult to identify biosecurity risks at the border. New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) urges all members to be vigilant and report any suspected smuggling of risky material to MPI on the Biosecurity Pest and Disease hotline (0800 80 99 66). Doing this helps to protect our primary industries, New Zealand’s unique natural environment and our way of life from the potentially devastating impacts of unwanted pests and diseases. NZW can also provide contacts and advice to assist with navigating the plant importation system. Email biosecurity@nzwine.com with any questions.
Organic
INDUSTRY NEWS
Win for Fairhall winery team
Indevin staff across the country put in a marathon effort over May and June to see who could collect the most plastic waste for Future Post to recycle into vineyard and farm posts. Over five weeks the Indevin Plastic Marathon brought in 13.4 tonnes of plastic, which equates to diverting 286,000 milk bottles and 1,920,000 plastic bags from landfill.
From a mountain of old drip line in Hawkes Bay, to pallets of chemical containers in Marlborough, the aim was to highlight what could be reused and recycled, but more importantly come up with ways to stop the waste happening in the first place.
“Removing plastic from the waste stream is the key, and the Fairhall winery team took top prize for their initiative to find an alternative to latex gloves,” says Indevin sustainability manager Angus Mcfarlane. “They sourced a more eco-friendly biodegradable option that also costs less, so it’s a win-win.”
Fundraising for skin cancer bus
Marlborough’s sunshine is great for ripening grapes but it also carries a cancer risk for those working outdoors. Lions Clubs NZ are fundraising for a mobile skin cancer clinic that would go out to workers in the field and provide full body screening for free. “The service is designed to help those who don’t go or can’t afford the $300 to get a full body skin cancer screening,” says Paul O’Connor, co-ordinator of the Lions Cancer Trust. “We would identify what might be troublesome and encourage the worker to go to their GP.” Paul says 509 people a year die from melanoma in NZ but early detection can mean a 95% survival rate. The bus-based skin clinic has two inspection rooms and an office and is staffed by medical professionals. Lions Clubs NZ has raised more than $300,000 for one bus in the North Island, and is now seeking support from winegrowers and other rural employers for a second one in the South Island. Potential sponsors or funders please contact Paul O’Connor: 202e.cancertrust@lionsclubs.org.nz
Biodegradable gloves in action
WINE HAPPENINGS
A monthly list of events within the New Zealand wine industry.
To have your event included in the August 2024 Wine Happenings, please email details to editor@winemarlborough.nz by July 20. For more information, go to the website supplied or email sarah@winemarlborough.nz
JULY
10 Fidelio Behind the Wines: Rhones with Jean-Christophe Poizat of Maison Vauron (trybooking.com/nz/events/landing/12432)
17 Caviar and Sparkling Masterclass, Fidelio Wine Bar (trybooking.com/nz/events/landing/12410)
4 Marlborough Wine Show entries close (www.marlboroughwineshow.com) 16-22 Organic Wine Week (organicwinenz.com)
Wine Show entries – Aug 8
Young Winemaker - July 31
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