Growing Season & Vintage Conditions

The season started slowly after a very cold winter with normal soil moistures. December finally warmed and provided excellent conditions for flowering and a strong and even fruit set. January was warm but unusually marked with five cold southerlies that brought snow to the mountains and tempered the post flowering growth and development. By the end of January and leading into veraison, the weather stabilised and provided warm and consistent temperatures throughout the remainder of the summer. The most interesting aspect about the entire growing season was the warmer night temperatures through February and March, which is uncharacteristic for Central Otago. This brought on the fruit ripeness earlier than we would normally expect considering the brief cold periods we experienced in November and January. Harvest began on March 26 and was completed by April 15 with ideal conditions throughout.