5 minute read
Industry News
Vintage Traffic
Detours through the Wairau Valley will complicate harvest traffic this vintage, say Police. Senior Constable Paul McKenzie says the closure of State Highway 1 south of Kekerengu will reduce the usual harvest pressure on Weld Pass, and place pressure on SH63 instead. High volumes of freight and tourist traffic have been using the country road since the November earthquake saw traffic diverted from SH1, and the addition of harvest vehicles will inevitably bring congestion. To complicate matters, drivers coming from Christchurch are frequently frustrated by the longer than usual route by the time they get to Marlborough, says Paul. Constant work to repair the roads also means there are now fewer places to pull off and let traffic past, he says. “It will be interesting. But as long as the harvest crews are doing all they can, that’s all we ask.”
Paul spoke to drivers and transport companies at a Wine Marlborough pre-harvest field day late last month, sharing compliance information and safety briefings. He will also visit contractors and some wineries in the lead up to vintage, as well as talking to trucking companies.
Calling on Young Viticulturists
The Bayer Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year 2017 competition is on in Blenheim on July 6, with entries open until May 31. The national competition is in Marlborough on August 29, and the winner will go on to compete in the Young Horticulturist of the Year competition. For more information on the regional event, contact Wine Marlborough Events Manager Georgie Leach at georgie@wine-marlborough. co.nz or 03 577 2391.
Leadership Course
Organisers of the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme and the Nuffield Scholarships are calling for more applications from the viticulture sector. The Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme is an established and recognised leadership programme designed for those working in the primary industries, including horticulture, viticulture, forestry, dairy, red meat and seafood. General Manager Anne Hindson says there has been increased interest from the wine sector in recent years, with viticulturists using the course to strengthen their understanding of primary sector strategy, nationally and globally, to better understand the political and economic context they operate in, and to enhance their leadership skills.
The next course starts on June 20, 2017, with applications open until March 20. Applications for January and June 2018 courses open soon. Go to www.kellogg.org.nz for more information.
Accommodation
St Andrews Property Group has sought resource consent to develop another 24 residential units and a Vinepower office at Blenheim’s St Andrews motel. Group spokesperson Richard Olliver says the new managed facility will provide pastoral care for up to 418 Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme (RSE) workers for Vinepower. The investment recognises the shortage of purposebuilt accommodation for seasonal wine workers, he says. “They are currently typically accommodated in lower quality rental properties and motels in Blenheim. At St Andrews, the intention is that the RSE workers will be accommodated in a managed facility specifically developed for their needs, providing a higher standard of accommodation and pastoral care.”
According to a Labour Survey released by Wine Marlborough early last year, the region’s wine industry is set to grow by 6444 hectares by 2020, requiring a 24% increase in worker numbers. That has ramped up concern over the shortage of accommodation in Blenheim.
Early last year Aaron Jay of contracting firm Hortus bought the 196-bed Duncannon worker accommodation to house his increasing numbers of seasonal staff. Meanwhile John Sowman, who bought Bings Motel in mid-August, is taking advantage of accommodation demand for seasonal labour.
Marlborough District Council Economic Development Manager Neil Henry says several other people are in talks with council about potential developments, including one large facility outside of Blenheim. With discussions around development contributions and other issues still on the table, those accommodation projects are at the research stage, with land still to be purchased in some cases. However, Neil is impressed by the alacrity of the response to last Looking Beyond
A new Marlborough exhibition shines a light on the vines, lines and energy of Seaview in the Awatere Valley. Photographer Jim Tannock and writer Helen Simpson collaborated on the Beyond exhibition, pairing evocative photos and poetic words to celebrate the landscape of Yealands Estate.
Jim, who provides the imagery for the Winepress cover each month, says Seaview is one of the most photogenic places he has known, cut by the hills and energised by the sea, with a light that’s “fundamental” to the images of the exhibition. “I have spent nine years photographing it, and it still holds interest,” he says.
The Beyond exhibition, was at the Marlborough Art Society Gallery until early March, and is now on display at Yealands Estate.
year’s labour survey. “I didn’t expect them to have responded so fast.”
Real Estate Update
The number of vineyard sales reported has reduced in the lead up to harvest, with only the odd smaller vineyard selling with larger dwellings, says Joe Blakiston of PGG Wrightson Real Estate “It’s more for the lifestyle factor, and prices in that area are very buoyant with $280,000 per planted hectare achieved.”
Larger blocks are likely to become available post-harvest, he says. “Larger companies are actively looking for land for planting to cover overseas Sauvignon Blanc sales growth in the next two or three years.” Meanwhile, demand for vineyards in the Awatere has slowed, “as the effects of the earthquake on this area have affected buyer perception”.
Leadership Week
The last two winners of the Bayer Young Viticulturist of the Year competition met some of New Zealand’s industry leaders last month, in a jam packed Leadership Week. The 2015 competition winner Caleb Dennis, and 2016 champion Cameron Price, travelled to the Wairarapa, Nelson, Auckland and Central Otago, to meet with wine industry pioneers, New Zealand Winegrowers’ executives and board members, and Meat Board Chief Executive Tim Ritchie. They also sat in on a rehearsal of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, to learn how conductor Giordano Bellincampi brings together more than 70 people for a harmonious result.
CLASSIFIEDS
For Sale: 2017 Marlborough Sauvignon
Blanc Approx 50 + tonne , low cropped 2 cane fruit, from award winning vineyard.
Processing capacity available with crop. Phone 572 4023, please leave a message 021 0414 368
Wine brand for sale Successful boutique
Marlborough wine brand for sale.
Sauvignon blanc and pinot noir with distribution in major US markets and other countries. Consistently well-reviewed by top wine publications. Please send inquiries to MarlboroughWineBrand@
gmail.com.
Grape Press For Sale: Diemme AR34 NSA.
Good condition, capacity 2.3tn whole bunch, 8tn red marc. Includes hopper, press tray, spare bag. Contact: john@
