Vintage Year For Wine Likely

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32219, 11 February 1970, Page 28

Vintage Year For Wine Likely

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND. February 10.

There is every prospect that New Zealand will have its first true vintage year for wine.

The long, dry spring and summer have provided the best grape-growing conditions for a least 25 to 30 years, ac cording to Auckland experts Both the major wine-mak-ing areas Auckland and Hawke’s Bay—have had a sea son of vintage standards so far. If no damaging rain falls before the grapes are gathered within six weeks or so the whole range of wines pro duced may qualify for vintage rating in the true European tradition, they say The president of the Viticultural Association of New Zealand (Mr G. Mazuran) said that, given a vintage year, tl would be a time for special! publicity both in New Zea land and overseas “This might be one of the best years we have had in New Zealand," he said. “We are still keeping our fingers

crossed that there is not too much rain in the next six weeks or so.” Tests would be made on the quality of the grapes as they came in and it would then be possible to say whether it really would be a year to remember Some of the table wines from this year would be available in 18 months or two years, but it might be four or five years before the vint age ports and sherries were ready About four million gallons of wine would probably be made in New Zealand this (year. The Government Viticultur ist (Mr F Berrysmith) said today that this had been the longest, driest, hottest vintage season he could remember in 25 years. The grapes were about two (weeks ahead of normal years (and had a good sugar content, (be said. Short of torrential rain, which could split the grapes, a vintage year seemed almost certain.