The summer before the 2011 vintage was a beauty. There were few significant frosts to limit the crop. So the New Zealand's wine industry enjoyed its largest ever harvest in 2011, 331,000 tonnes which converts into a hell of a lot of. More than three quarters of this crop was Sauvignon Blanc, a grape variety everyone believes we have too much of.
In real terms though, says Stuart Smith, the Chair of Winegrowers New Zealand (the body that is made up of grape growers and wine makers) the Sauvignon Blanc tanks were near empty for most wineries by the start of vintage and so the big crop was just in time: 'It gives us something to sell' he told us.
Here at Vine-on-Line, we gain also from a larger crop as we can pick up pockets of ‘extra’ wine selling for a fraction of the price of the big brother main label and pass these savings on to you. There are good quantities of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay around and they are of very good quality.
Our team evaluating the new wines find that 2011 Sauvignons are a little different; the quality of the year has slowed down their openning up phase and only now, knocking on Christmas, are we seeing the ripe, flavoursome style we will enjoy through summer and the next twelve months.
Red wines had a more difficult year in 2011 in Hawkes Bay but as yet we haven’t full seen the 2010 vintage which was apparently excellent. Central Otago and Martinborough wine makers tell us they had a good Pinot Noir season this year but once again, after barrel age, we have yet to see the full range from 2010.. So there is heaps to look forward to.
Also in 2011 we are seeing expanding quantities of the ‘new’ varieties – in fact centuries old European grapes which are new to New Zealand climate, soil and wine making. Varieties like Gruner Veltliner, Arneis, Viognier and Verdelho are starting to show on the radar now so watch out for Vine On Line to begin to dabble in these varietals as they come to fruition.
Red varieties like Tempranillo and Montipulciano are also making us wake up to how good New Zealand’s conditions are for all sorts of overlooked varieties. Remember when we thought it was too cool here to grow Syrah this side of the Tasman?
2011 seems to be the year to prove that the sky really is the limit. Watch this space...
Simon Templeton, General Manager
