Ban on vineyards ‘potential loss’

Press, 1 May 1978, Page 6

Ban on vineyards ‘potential loss’

Bans on vineyards on Banks Peninsula and possibly in Paparua County, are depriving New Zealand of big export potential, according to Professor D. Lovis, of the University of Canterbury botany department.

"It may prove that nowhere on Banks Peninsula can fine wine be grown, but at present no-one can tell,*' he said “What is particularly ironic is that if fine wine can be grown, it will bring an economic return per acre far exceeding that of the most efficient pastoral

Professor Lovis said that of Europe's most valuable agricultural land would be comparatively worthless other than for viticulture. His remarks were drawn bv local-body bans on vinearda on what he said was the “specious ground" that vineyards might be damaged by aerial spraying of noxious weeds in the vicin-

"The greatest potential for high quality in New Zealand wines may yet prove to be in such areas as Banks Peninsula, but of course it can never be realised if this

extraordinary ban is permitted," he said. Professor Lovis has recently returned to New Zealand after a long absence. He emphasised that he had no personal involvement on either side of the controv-

“In my limited experience, the average quality of the great bulk of French wine is lower than that of the average New Zealand product, at least where the New Zealand [wines are made solely from [European grape varieties, as distinct from so-called : hybrid’ varieties,” he said. Experience elsewhere showed that the development of a successful wine export industry depended on the production of some wines of superb quality, because of the “soin-off” effect on the international reputation of the country’s wines.

The finest wines came from climatically marginal

areas, said Professor Lovis. In the Bordeaux, Cote d'Or, Chablis, and Moselle districts, really successful vintages occurred on average not more than three years in 10, and great vintages more rarely'. "The history of wine exploitation in New Zealand is to a considerable extent a >ad tale of missed opportunity,” Professor Lovis said. Only in the last few years had New Zealand taken the advice of Romeo Bragato. a viticultura! adviser early this century, to use the best European grape varities. “Half a century of development has been lost,” Professor Lovis said. “Further development of the wine industry requires tolerance and time; time to discover which of the oremium classical varieties of wine grape Will grow best where in New Zealand."