WATER SAVINGS CONSTELLATION CADET - Wine Marlborough
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THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF WINE MARLBOROUGH
ISSUE NO. 290 / FEBRUARY 2019
SAUVIGNON WATER SPY CONSTELLATION
2019 SAVINGS FAMILY CADET
Photo: Jim Tannock
wine-marlborough.co.nz
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19
this issue...
Photo: Richard Briggs
10
REGULARS FEATURES
3 Editorial 10 Sauvignon 2019
The International Sauvignon
4 From Wine Marlborough -
Vance Kerslake
Blanc Celebration 2019 was
a perfect blend of thought
provoking seminars and
6 Tasman Crop Met Report
talk provoking social events.
Marlborough’s landscapes and 13
weather came to the party, as
20 Industry Pioneer - Ivan
Sutherland
guests from around the world
explored the region and its
wines.
22 Generation Y-ine - Katie Bruce
12 Water Savings
Marlborough vineyards may
24 Biosecurity Watch - BMSB
high risk season
be using twice as much water
as they need, with no yield,
ripening or flavour advantage,
26 Industry News
Mark Krasnow told the NZSVO
Sauvignon Workshop, just
days before the shutdown of
28 ANZ Wine Happenings the Southern Valleys irrigation
20
scheme.
13 Solar Power
Jean-Charles and Marguerite
Van Hove are harnessing the
sun to fight climate change,
with a three-year transition to
electric vehicles, irrigation and
Cover: hot water, all powered by solar.
This month’s Generation Y-ine, Katie
Bruce, in Constellation Brands’ Awatere
Hills vineyard at dawn. Photo Jim Tannock.
Winepress February 2019 / 1
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2 / Winepress February 2019
From the
General Manager:
Marcus Pickens
03 577 9299
Editor
marcus@wine-marlborough.co.nz
Editor: Marlborough put on cracking weather for the International Sauvignon Blanc
Sophie Preece Celebration 2019, ensuring every stunning location was Instagram-perfect. It
027 308 4455 was, on a more sombre note, also the perfect backdrop for several of the session
sophie@sophiepreece.co.nz
themes, with climate predictions heralding a future of increased bouts of heavy
Advertising: rainfall, then longer dry spells in the region. By day two of the conference, under
Harriet Wadworth blisteringly blue skies, the Southern Valleys Irrigation Scheme was switched off,
03 577 9299 and just hours after Sauvignon 2019 had wrapped up, Class B consents on the
harriet@wine-marlborough.co.nz
Waihopai River were down too.
The industry has to take more care in its water use, reduce its footprint and
Wine Marlborough Board: look at sustainability into the next 100 or 1,000 years, audience members heard
Ben Ensor as they took air-conditioned refuge in the theatre. Professor Roger Boulton
ben.lisa@clear.net.nz discussed a lack of uptake in sustainable winemaking practices, Steve Smith,
MW, gave a hard-hitting overview of the implications of climate change on
Callum Linklater
callum@csviticulture.co.nz winegrowing, and Riversun’s Geoff Thorpe spoke of Toitu 2020, a mission to
achieve authentic, measurable sustainability and carbon neutrality.
Jack Glover Winepress will cover these over the next few months, as well as the thought-
jack.glover@accolade-wines.co.nz provoking discussions of Sauvignon Blanc’s reality and future in the marketplace.
In the meantime, a picture tells 1,000 words, so you’ll find several thousand
Nick Entwistle
words worth of Sauvignon 2019 impressions on page 10, thanks to the talents of
nick@wairauriverwines.com
Richard Briggs.
Simon Bishell The Wine Marlborough team worked tirelessly alongside New Zealand
simon@caythorpe.nz Winegrowers (NZW) over the three-day event, ensuring everyone was where
they should be, drinking, eating, learning and tweeting to their heart’s content.
Stuart Dudley (Deputy Chair)
With 350 guests (100 of them internationals), 17 locations, and three big parties,
stuartd@villamaria.co.nz
that’s a mammoth task. And there’s no rest in sight, with the Marlborough Wine
Tom Trolove (Chair) & Food Festival hard on the celebration’s heels.
tom.trolove@framingham.co.nz With harvest looming, this edition has a brief reminder of the rules around
grape marc. It’s also time to check your contractor. Last month, NZW chair John
Tracy Johnston Clarke sent a letter to members, reminding them of the blow to the industry’s
Tracy@dayvinleigh.co.nz
reputation when viticulture contractors are found to have been exploiting
Jamie Marfell workers. “I believe we need to own this problem and make sure our colleagues are
Jamie.Marfell@pernod-ricard.com owning it too,” he wrote. If a contractor can’t, or won’t, provide you with evidence
that they are meeting the minimum legal standards, you should be alarmed, he
Beth Forrest says. “You are likely exposing yourself and the whole industry to risk.”
Beth@forrest.co.nz
SOPHIE PREECE
Printed by:
Blenheim Print Ltd
03 578 1322
Disclaimer: The views and articles that are
expressed and appear in Winepress are entirely
those of contributors and in no way reflect the
policy of the Marlborough Winegrowers. Any
advice given, implied or suggested should be
considered on its merits, and no responsibility can
be taken for problems arising from the use of such
information.
Winepress February 2019 / 3
From Wine
Marlborough
Amber alert - maximum increases to
minimum wage
VANCE KERSLAKE
THE MINIMUM wage is set to the economic
increase by $1.20 to $17.70 on April 1, conditions at the
2019, slightly above my prediction of time. However, in
$1.17 in Winepress last October. Unions the context of the
have been celebrating the increase, coalition agreement
the largest in dollar terms since New commitment
Zealand became the first country in between Labour and
the world to introduce the minimum New Zealand First
wage in 1894. The new rate compares to ‘progressively
favourably with the ‘living wage’ of increase the
$20.55 promoted by Living Wage minimum wage
Aotearoa. We now have the highest to $20 per hour by
minimum wage in the OECD relative 2020’, I’m reminded
to the average wage. The starting-out of Scottish poet Andrew Lang, who of increases to the minimum wage.
and training wages will increase from wrote, “Politicians use statistics in the While you might not have many,
$13.20 to $14.16 per hour from April 1 same way that a drunk uses lamp posts or any, staff on the minimum wage,
2019, in order to stay at 80% of the - for support rather than illumination”. maintaining the wage relativities
adult minimum wage. One positive is that the with slightly higher paid staff could
Having managed the team that did Government has taken the guess-work significantly increase costs. Wineries
the number-crunching for the annual out of future increases by indicating told us minimum wage increases
minimum wage review when I worked an increase to $18.90 to come into were pushing up all harvest pay rates
at the Ministry of Business, Innovation effect on April 1, 2020, and an increase when they responded to the Harvest
and Employment (MBIE), I can tell to $20 to come into effect on April 1, Remuneration survey in 2018. Many
you that the bureaucrats go through a 2021. That means employers now have of the wineries who took part in the
rigorous process. But, ultimately, it is some certainty and the ability to plan survey said higher labour costs were
a political decision made by ministers. for further increases - which is a nice impacting on budgets. The solution
The statutory process requires segue into our ‘Amber Alert’ to ensure for most was to improve efficiency
the minister to take into account members understand the implications in the winery and focus on boosting
Salaried Staff
Every hour of work has to be paid at least the minimum when employers average wages over a season – was likely
wage, and this includes staff on a salary. At the minimum to breach the Minimum Wage Act and employees should
wage of $16.50, a staff member on a salary of $34,320 receive the minimum wage for the hours they work in a
can only work 40 hours a week - even one hour more week. Make sure you keep accurate time and wage records
and they’re earning less than minimum wage. When the to ensure staff never fall under the minimum wage. Dairy
minimum wage increases to $20, a salary of $41,600 will be farmers have been named and shamed on social media
required to cover a 40-hour week. It doesn’t matter what is by unions doing simple calculations around listed salary
written into an employment agreement about salary and and hours worked. The Labour Inspectorate has also
hours, the minimum wage is the minimum and every hour prosecuted employers for paying low salaries for long
must be paid at least that rate. The Employment Relations hours that breached the Minimum Wage Act.
Authority (ERA) has determined that seasonal averaging –
4 / Winepress February 2019
productivity. Wineries did not feel with the national minimum wage have been strong for a while now.
they could necessarily pass on the at the time of $15.25. No doubt, RSE The unemployment rate has fallen
extra costs to customers, and increased workers are paid more than that now, significantly - now the lowest it has
labour costs were putting a squeeze on but, by April 1 2021, they will all be been since June 2008 - and the labour
margins. Pay rates for the cellar door earning a minimum of $20 along with market has been tightening. These
and any attached restaurant could also have all been used as justification for
be under pressure. increasing the minimum wage, but
Machinery operators and vineyard
assistants are in high demand in “We now have these conditions won’t last. Economic
shocks occur regularly, every decade
Marlborough, with multiple vacancies
being advertised every week. The tight
the highest on average - Global Financial Crisis
2008, Asian financial crisis 1997,
labour market means most of these
sought-after staff are earning well over
minimum wage stock market crash 1987 - and many
economists are predicting the next
minimum wage - at 2018 rates. With in the OECD shock is not too far away. With high
minimum wage increases of 6% to 7%
per annum for the next three years relative to the oil prices, a trade war between the US
and China, and the possibility of a
starting April 1, expect to see pressure
on wage and salary increases.
average wage.” no-deal Brexit on March 29, this is a
jittery time for world markets. It might
Recognised Seasonal Employers Vance Kerslake not feel like it, but we are living in the
(RSE), labour contractors, bottling boom times, and now is the time to
companies and all the members of put plans in place to safeguard for the
the wider wine sector family will have future.
their own challenges with minimum everyone else. This may well impact on
wage increases. A Labour Inspectorate your annual pruning cost.
survey in 2016 found that, on average, I don’t want to end this article on
RSE workers were paid more than the a downbeat note, but it’s important
minimum wage - WINEPRESS
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Winepress February 2019 / 5
MET REPORT
Table 1: Blenheim Weather Data – December 2018 for sunshine in December 2018. It is a
December December 2018 December Period December rare event when Blenheim is beaten
2018 compared LTA of LTA 2017 by so many other towns. Almost
to LTA beyond belief Invercargill and Hokitika
GDD’s for: recorded the second equal highest
sunshine total for December.
Month - Max/Min¹ 229.4 107% 213.9 (1996-2017 270.9
Month – Mean² 221.6 106% 209.5 (1996-2017) 275.8 Rainfall
Growing Degree Days Total 2018 is the first year since 2011 to
Jul – Dec 18 – Max/Min 587.5 108% 542.7 (1996-2017) 653.4 have recorded above average rainfall
Jul - Dec 18 – Mean 629.8 106% 591.9 (1996-2017) 701.7 in December. In all six years 2012-2017
Mean Maximum (°C) 21.7 -0.2°C 21.9 (1986-2017) 24.5 December recorded well below average
Mean Minimum (°C) 13.1 +1.4°C 11.7 (1986-2017) 12.9 rainfall.
Mean Temp (°C) 17.4 +0.6°C 16.8 (1986-2017) 18.7
Ground Frosts (
above average rainfall and well below (January, February March, May and was 216.3 km compared to the LTA of
average evapotranspiration. November). Four months recorded 255.4 km (1996-2017). Total daily wind-
close to average rainfall (within 10 run for 2018 was 78,870 km compared
Annual weather statistics for mm of average; April, July, August and to the long-term average of 93,522 km
Blenheim for 2018, compared to the December). Three months recorded (1996-2017). Total and average daily
long-term average well below average rainfall (June, wind-run for 2018 were the lowest on
September and October). record for the 23 years 1996 to 2018. In
Sunshine
the annual summary for 2017 it was
Total sunshine for Blenheim in Temperature reported that 2017 was the calmest
2018 was 2502.8 hours, 100.3% of the The mean temperature for 2018 year on record. However, 2018 was
LTA of 2495.7 hours (1986-2017). For was 13.89°C; 0.73°C above the LTA for even calmer than 2017. For eleven
the third year in a row Richmond took the 32 years 1986-2017. 2018 is the third years in a row (2008-2018) Blenheim
out the top place for the sunniest town hottest year on record for Blenheim has recorded lower than average total
in New Zealand. Blenheim last took for the 87 years 1932 to 2018. The and daily wind-run. Ten months in
out first place in 2015, the year before hottest year on record is 1998 with a 2018 recorded below average wind-run.
Richmond installed their sunshine mean temperature of 13.95°C and the April and May 2018 recorded slightly
recorder. The rankings for the sunniest second hottest is 2016 with a mean above average wind-run.
towns for 2018 were: temperature of 13.93°C.
Ten months in 2018 recorded January 2019 Weather
Table 2: Sunniest towns in New
above average mean temperatures. January 2019 was very warm with
Zealand for 2018
Two months recorded average the equal hottest mean temperature
Placing Town Sunshine to slightly below average mean on record. Sunshine hours and
Hours temperatures. The hottest day of 2018 evapotranspiration were well above
1st Richmond 2555.1 was 30 January with a maximum average. Rainfall was one of the
2nd Whakatane 2518 temperature of 32.5°C. The coldest day lowest totals on record. Wind-run was
3rd Blenheim 2502.8 of 2018 was 23 June with an air frost of average.
4th New Plymouth 2496.3 -1.3°C and a ground frost of -4.7°C.
5th Napier 2455.1 Temperature
Frosts
Rainfall The mean temperature of 20.7°C
49 ground frosts were recorded was 2.5°C above the LTA temperature
Total rainfall for 2018 was 809.6 in 2018; 2.6 less than the long term
mm; 127% of the LTA of 636 mm (Table for January of 18.2°C. One year ago
average of 51.6 (1986-2017).
1). The 2018 rainfall total is the seventh I reported that “January 2018 has
8 air frosts were recorded in 2018;
highest total on record for Blenheim entered the record books as the hottest
11.3 less than the long-term average of
for the 89 years 1930 to 2018. The January in Blenheim for the 87 year
19.3.
highest total on record of 1003.4 mm period 1932 to 2018”. Quite remarkably
was recorded in 1995. Five months Wind-run Blenheim has now recorded the two
recorded well above average rainfall Average daily wind-run for 2018 hottest January’s for the 88 year
period 1932 to 2019, in 2018 and 2019.
As mentioned last year, the mean
temperature of 20.7°C is also equal
Figure 1: Blenheim rainfall for 2018 compared to the long-term average
to Blenheim’s previous hottest ever
month – February 1998.
Despite January 2018 and
January 2019 recording equal mean
temperatures of 20.7°C, other aspects
of the temperatures in the two years
were remarkably different. The January
2019 mean maximum of 26.8°C is
now by far the hottest on record. The
previous highest mean maximum of
25.9°C was recorded in January 1981.
The January 2019 mean minimum
temperature of 14.5°C was 1.5°C cooler
than in January 2018; i.e. the night time
Winepress February 2019 / 7
Table 3: Blenheim Weather Data – January 2019 regions in New Zealand will have
January January 2019 January Period January actually experienced a heat wave
2019 compared to LTA of LTA 2018 that meets the criteria of five or more
LTA consecutive days with the maximum
GDD’s for: 5°C or more above average. Many
Month - Max/Min¹ 330.6 133% 248.1 (1996-2018) 331.3 regions have experienced some very
Month – Mean² 325.5 136% 239.5 (1996-2018) 322.2 hot temperatures over the last week.
Growing Degree Days Total However, in most regions the days
with maximum daily temperatures
Jul 18 – Jan 19 – Max/Min1 918.1 116% 790.8 (1996-2018) 984.7
5°C or more above average have been
Jul 18 - Jan 19 – Mean2 955.3 115% 831.4 (1996-2018) 1018
interrupted by days with maximum
Mean Maximum (°C) 26.8 +3.4°C 23.4 (1986-2018) 25.4
temperatures that have not exceeded
Mean Minimum (°C) 14.5 +1.7°C 12.8 (1986-2018) 16.0
the LTA by 5°C.
Mean Temp (°C) 20.7 +2.5°C 18.2 (1986-2018) 20.7
Blenheim’s LTA daily maximum
Ground Frosts (1930 to 2019. The lowest total on record potential evapotranspiration = -183.1 fell from 27.4% on 1 January to 15% on
is January 1978 with zero rainfall. mm potential water deficit 31 January. At the end of January there
The January 2019 water deficit of was almost no available moisture left
Wind-run -183.1 mm was 187% of the LTA water in the top soil.
Average daily wind-run in January deficit for January of -97.7 mm. This
2019 was 263.6 km, only slightly is the highest water deficit for the 23 Rob Agnew
below the LTA of 273.3 km. This was years 1997 to 2019 (the period over Plant & Food Research / Marlborough
in marked contrast to January 2018 which evapotranspiration has been Research Centre
when average daily wind-run was only measured). In contrast the potential
190.6 km, the lowest on record, and water deficit in January 2018 was only Exclusive
importers of
also January 2017 when average daily -55.2 mm.
wind-run was 336.1 km, the highest on
record. Shallow soil moisture (topsoil)
suspension and
Average shallow soil moisture liquid fertilisers
Potential evapotranspiration (0 to 35 cm) at the Grovetown Park Th e M e t Re p o r t wa s s p o n s o re d by
Total potential evapotranspiration weather station for January 2019 was
for January 2019 was 186.9 mm, 132% of 18.9%. This was below the LTA of
the LTA. This was a much higher total 21.1%. However, given the extremely Vi t i c u l t u r e S u p p l i e s S p e c i a l i s t s 0 80 0 855 2 55
than in January 2018 (135.6 mm), due to low January rainfall why was average
much higher wind-run, radiation and shallow soil moisture not lower? As
daily maximum temperatures in 2019. detailed in Table 1 Blenheim recorded
above average rainfall in December
Potential water deficit
2018. As a result the shallow soil
This is the difference between moisture was 27.4% on 1 January 2019.
monthly rainfall and potential This was well above average for early
evapotranspiration. January. However, with almost no
3.8 mm rainfall – 186.9 mm rainfall in January the soil moisture
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Winepress February 2019 / 910 / Winepress February 2019
WINEPRESS MAGAZINE 253H X 86W MM
Sauvignon
2019
SOPHIE PREECE
FROM A ‘secret garden’ at the edge of the Pacific Ocean
to a rustic hut at the edge of the Waihopai River, the
International Sauvignon Blanc Celebration 2019 was a
stunning showcase of Marlborough. More than 350 guests
attended the three day, 17-venue celebration, including 100
international influencers, writers, distributors, buyers and
social media mavens.
The 21 speakers included nine Masters of Wine,
researchers, marketing experts and thought-leading
industry members. Internationally acclaimed wine
PUNISH
writer Matt Kramer returned to the celebration, having
spoken at the inaugural 2016 event. That year, he claimed
Marlborough’s wine industry was suffering all the angst of
POWDERY
a midlife crisis. “You might like to know that you seem to
be getting over that now,” he told last month’s audience.
The question now was “where to from here?” There was a
MILDEW
sense of impatience among people he spoke to, but in wine
time, “you only started last week”, he said, talking of New
Zealand Sauvignon Blanc as the “most preposterous, most
ridiculous success story in the history of bottled wines”.
No one could find New Zealand on the map, but it took the K-POW both protects and
world by storm, he continued. “If you think about it, no one eradicates Powdery Mildew.
anywhere has ever achieved what you have achieved here,
especially in Marlborough.” The next step to success was in
creating a culture of Sauvignon Blanc, in order to command
a premium.
Emma Jenkins, a Master of Wine “with a particular
passion for Sauvignon”, said the “elephant in the room”
FITS
was the variety’s image problem. “There are a lot of people, BENE lowable ed
including those who should know better, who like to dismiss Liqui
dF
e r R equir
tirr
it as too varietal or too simple, or - I don’t know - too
o Pa int S djuva
nt
- N & A
delicious? Too drinkable?” That meant it could be damned icide
with faint praise, she said. “Sometimes I suspect they need Fung Residues
Nil nic
to drink more Sauvignon Blanc from around the world. They
Orga
probably need to re-examine some of their preconceived
ideas.”
Certainly guests at the conference did just that,
with a series of tastings spanning classic and alternative
Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and beyond, and a
series of speakers casting an intellectual, philosophical,
commercial or environmental perspective on the variety
and its place and future in the world.
Photos by Richard Briggs
www.etec.co.nz
Winepress February 2019 / 11Water
to Wine
Potential to save billions
of litres of water in
Marlborough vineyards
SOPHIE PREECE
MARLBOROUGH VINEYARDS may
be using twice as much water as they
need, with no yield, ripening or flavour
advantage, says Mark Krasnow of
Thoughtful Viticulture. “If you can be
Mark Krasnow uses a pressure chamber to assess water potential in a vine
more efficient in your vineyard and
save money and make the same or
better wine while using less resources, funded by New Zealand Winegrowers to seeing if the initial results prove
why would you not?” and the Bragato Trust, involves stable over time. “But this is very
Speaking at last month’s New measuring the grape vine’s water suggestive that maybe we are wasting a
Zealand Society for Viticulture and potential rather than the soil. resource here, and in doing so creating
Oenology (NZSVO) Sauvignon Blanc “Measuring the soil is a fine first step, more work for ourselves.”
workshop, Mark outlined results but you are still guessing whether The workshop had a focus on
from a 2018 research trial in which the vine needs water, whereas if you adapting to change, with a particular
Sauvignon Blanc vineyards were measure the vines the guess work is lens on climate change, the scenarios
watered according to plant need, while removed,” says Mark. Water potential Marlborough can expect, and the
control vineyards were irrigated in the is a measure of how hard leaves have mitigation tools available, or being
typical manner, using soil probes as a to pull to extract moisture from the developed. However, NZSVO
trigger. soil. “As the soil gets drier, the vine has executive officer Sue Binnie says
Across the four Marlborough to work harder.” Mark uses a pressure challenges ahead are not limited to
vineyards trialled, water savings chamber to assess water potential, only climate change, with limited resources,
ranged from 137,000 litres per hectare irrigating when it is apparent the vine biosecurity risks, and vine age and
to 666,000l per hectare. If you is working too hard. health just some of the “moving
extrapolate those numbers across As well as Sauvignon Blanc in carpets” beneath the industry. “Wine
Marlborough’s Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, the study is looking companies have to adapt to change to
growing area, “the potential water at other regions and other varieties, stay with the programme…We have a
savings are quite staggering”, says with different irrigation thresholds world leader and a world beater in our
Mark. for each. But in all cases, the control Sauvignon, but we cannot rest on our
Meanwhile, vineyard effort and deficit blocks are identical, except laurels.”
was reduced in the deficit irrigation for watering, and all white grape Sue says the workshop, with
vineyards, where vines put energy into plants are irrigated reasonably well its “world class speakers”, was a
ripening fruit not growing new shoots. up to veraison, in order to build yield heartening demonstration of he
The fruit from the drier vineyards potential, Mark says. “Then at veraison continued collegiality of the industry.
ripened earlier in all cases, and had we pare back on the water a bit, to “I love that there is still collaboration.
similar yields and thiols to the well- keep the leaves ticking along and the They are not hiding their recipe or ring
watered vines. The deficit wines, when fruit ripening, but not enough that the fencing what they know.”
tasted by a panel of experts, received lateral growth continues or the shoot
similar or better scores than the control tips continue to grow.”
wines. With the second year of the trial
The three-year research trial, now underway, he is looking forward
12 / Winepress February 2019Electric
Ideas
Clos Marguerite’s battle against
climate change
SOPHIE PREECE
JEAN-CHARLES AND Marguerite from town, “but we got
Van Hove are harnessing the sun to someone and he’s been
fight climate change, with a three-year very good”, he says. usual bell curve of solar production, he
transition to electric vehicles, irrigation The system uses a 10kW converter, says.
and hot water, all powered by solar. despite the panels achieving 12.8kW. As it is not valuable to return
From a relatively small roofline of That ensures redundancy in the power to the grid, Jean-Charles uses
panels at a relatively remote vineyard panels, meaning more output in the software that manages the load,
in the Awatere Valley, Clos Marguerite mornings and evenings, reducing the putting the first low levels of power
is now hardly on the grid, with plans into hot water, before charging the
for an electric tractor and winery cars. “Once the cars are full, we start
refrigeration next on Jean-Charles’ hit “If we miss this exporting (to the grid) again and if
list. “The real battle is climate change,” we export more than 7.5kW then the
he says of his decision three years ago one, if we can’t irrigation starts on its own.”
to reduce the footprint of his operation.
If we miss this one, if we can’t turn the turn the boat, When he has optimised his
operations to include the glycol system
boat, then there are not many other
battles that are worth fighting, I think.”
then there are for the refrigeration of wine over
summer, surplus power would be used
The couple’s first step was a not many other for irrigation or refrigeration, with less
offloaded to the grid.
hybrid car for Marguerite’s sales trips,
then an electric pump in the river, battles that are Jean-Charles has done the
which involved bringing in power,
among other complications. Finally worth fighting, numbers to weigh the pros with
the cons, including the heavy
there was a fully electric car, with a
range of 220km. “During that process
I think.” environmental cost of electric cars,
due to the rare elements used in the
I thought, ‘well what we should do is Jean-Charles van batteries. But the outcomes are still
produce power here, and so we looked well in the positives, especially in
at the solar panels’.” It took some time Hove smaller electric cars, he says.
to find a tradesperson to work so far
Winepress February 2019 / 13Green and
Black
How do finances stack up for
organic growers?
REBECCA REIDER
ORGANIC WINES are more costly to was widely
grow than conventional blocks, but understood
deliver a better price per tonne, says outside the
organic consultant Bart Arnst. He told organic sector.
audiences at an Organic Winegrowers Bart said
New Zealand (OWNZ) seminar in there were
Blenheim late last year that organics a variety of factors that influence When it comes to undervine
might cost an extra $400 per hectare, financial bottom lines for organic treatments, Bart estimated the total
due largely to undervine treatments, growers. However, in general, pruning cost per season was approximately
but returns can be $300 per tonne and bud rubbing costs are unlikely to $500/ha extra for undervine
higher than non-organic. “The majority change when a vineyard is converted cultivation, compared with herbicide
of organic growers are focused on to organic production. “Reduction of treatment. However, the current
quality,” he told the group of organic vigour reduces speed in accessing approach to undervine herbicide is
and non-organic growers. “This the appropriate wood. This in turn a liability for the wine industry, he
inevitably increases the per-hectare however should make the stripping said, adding that consumers and the
spend.” out process quicker and supposedly weeds themselves were becoming
However, Bart argued that those cheaper.” Trimming and leaf removal increasingly resistant.
additional costs are compensated for in costs tend to be similar in organic Sub-surface irrigation could be a
the price points for high quality wines and non-organic regimes, with the “game changer” in reducing the cost of
and grapes. Last season, certified exception of blocks that have had weeding, he added. “Half the problem
organic Sauvignon Blanc growers in excess vigour in the past, and may we’re facing is we’re watering the
Marlborough received around $300 need one less pass under organic weeds we’re trying to eliminate.”
per tonne above the district average, management. Mowing costs are also When it comes to yields and
he said, adding that the total financial likely to remain constant, although profitability, Bart pointed out that
picture will depend on yields as well mowing practices are species- there can be some benefits to reducing
as the cost of vineyard tasks and the dependent, and sward management excess vigour by becoming organic.
price received for fruit. But a sample can change under organic production, With lower crop loads ripening is
calculation for Marlborough Sauvignon he said. faster, which can lessen losses to
Blanc, based on an average yield of 13.6 While the majority of non-organic botrytis, and money doesn’t have
tonne/ha for organic vineyards, saw an vineyards have tightened their spray to be spent on the task of dropping
organic grower earn $3,680 per hectare intervals to be in line with the standard fruit. Going organic is often about the
more than they would at the same organic regime, an organic canopy difference between being “a short game
yield levels for non-organic grapes. spray programme can be between player versus a long game player,”
Rob Simcic, Head of Food $200 and $400/ha cheaper, due to the Bart said. “Those looking to be in
and Beverage at ANZ bank, asked difference in costs between organic this business for a long time have a
growers at the 2017 Organic and and synthetic chemicals, Bart said. different approach.”
Biodynamic Winegrowing Conference Fertiliser costs are unlikely to vary
why they had become organic. He much between organic and non- Rebecca Reider is Organic Winegrowers
told the seminar audience that the organic vineyards. “In a quick survey, New Zealand’s coordinator. Read the
leading reason was to produce the both organic and non-organic seem to full feature on financial considerations
highest quality grapes and wine, but be averaging around $350/ha per year for organic growers in the members’
questioned whether that relationship on solid fertiliser.” magazine Organic Matters.
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Winepress February 2019 / 15Spy
Family
Family pitch in for a busy
summer season at Spy
SOPHIE PREECE
AMANDA JOHNSON has a secret there washing
weapon when it comes to battling the dishes, then
busy summer season at Spy Valley mum came in at
Wines. the same time
For the past several years, the as Granddad
From left, Amy Gibbs, Lucy Sladden, Max Gibbs, Amanda Johnson
general manager has called in her (Spy Valley
and Henry Gibbs, with Nikau
nieces, nephews and children to owner Bryan
take on roles in the family-owned Johnson).”
vines, winery and cellar door during Henry also did a Méthode Marlborough in 1998, a year before
their holidays, washing dishes and Marlborough tasting at Logan Brown Henry was born. Back then there was
helping with tours and tastings, or in the lead-up to Christmas, giving a a Johnson Estate - the first vineyards
weeding driveways, maintaining speech about the society of sparkling at the start of the Waihopai Valley - but
vines and driving tractors. “They have wine makers in front of an audience of no winery.
been working pretty hard and our 60. “It was really nerve-wracking”, he The Johnsons went on to purchase
viticulturist Adam, who is like part of admits, but all part of the lifestyle they more land, and built the Spy Valley
the family too, is pretty impressed with were raised in. winery in 2003, so that the business
them.” The kids grew up on the ridgeline grew in front of Henry, Max and Amy’s
Amanda’s daughter Amy and niece above the Waihopai Valley vineyards eyes. Now they help that growth,
Lucy Sladden, both 16, have been flat and winery, and vividly recall bringing friends home from school
tack washing dishes and working in mornings tearing down the rows on a and university, to live with Amanda
the vineyard, while one son Max, 17, flat deck trailer, towed by Bryan. and help out over Spy’s summer. For
has been busy in the vines. Meanwhile, The home was also a hub for Spy Amanda, it’s part of what makes the
Henry, 19, drives a tractor and helps hospitality, so they are all well-versed place so special. “It’s good fun actually
host on cruise ship days. in the company’s ethos and familiar and I think the staff appreciate it as
He recalls a day in December, as with the key distributors, most of well. It reinforces for them that we
he was helping run tastings for two bus whom have been involved from the really are a family company.”
loads of visitors, when one asked if any beginning. “It’s all encompassing
of the family worked there. “Amy was really,” says Amanda, who moved to
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Winepress February 2019 / 17Slowing
Expansion
Marlborough vineyard market cools off
SOPHIE PREECE
CHANGES TO Overseas Investment hectares based on data from 47
Office (OIO) rules are likely to slow vineyards - indicates that vineyard
the growth of new greenfield vineyard profit before tax has decreased from
developments in Marlborough, says 2016 and 2017 to $10,000 per hectare.
the Colliers International Marlborough Meanwhile, vineyard values
Photo by Richard Briggs
Viticulture Property Report. Multi- and sales volumes have plateaued
national companies have “led the in the past year. That suggests a
charge” on that front since the Global stabilising following several years of larger vineyards are still attracting
Financial Crisis adjustment period, strong growth, where vineyard values good attention, including two large
but will be less likely to do so with the climbed, even as profits remained vineyard purchases in the Awatere
tightening of rules around sensitive relatively level, the report shows. Valley, “where investment returns are
areas, it says. Around 14 vineyards sold in the seen to be slightly more favourable at
Colliers International director Tim past year, compared to around 25 in present”, says the report.
Gifford says recent OIO decisions, previous years. Both those properties sold to New
including the December go-ahead Tim says the numbers are still Zealand buyers, and one of the two -
for the sale of Mt Difficulty to Foley well above previous lows in 2008 the 320ha Altimarloch for $31 million
Wines, indicates the tightening of to 2011, but are showing a disparity - was to the New Zealand Super Fund.
rules may not impact as greatly as between vendor and purchaser price That’s just one of the investment funds
initially predicted. However, other expectations. “There’s been a reduction showing interest in Marlborough,
domestic sources of capital will in buyers, who I think are forming despite a cooling market, says Tim.
still be required to support new the view that on the current numbers To see the full report, go to
development, succession, productivity it’s not that favourable…The heat has www.colliers.co.nz
improvements, marketing and other come out of the market and buyers are
investment activity, he says. being a bit more discerning around Price per planted hectare
Those New Zealand investors will investment returns, recognising that • Lower Wairau and Rapaura
need confidence in grower returns, costs have gone up and returns have locations - $250,000-$300,000
which took a 14% dive last year, thanks stayed pretty static.” • Central Wairau - $175,000-
to reduced yields and increasing That’s particularly true of smaller $250,000
operating costs. The Marlborough blocks, with more on the market, and • Awatere Valley and upper Wairau
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18 / Winepress February 2019Winery Waste
A reminder of winery waste rules, in the lead up to vintage 2019
LIQUID WASTE – discharge into or the pH level and note any • Is the grape marc located within
onto land: Is the disposal area located adjustments. 50m of a bore?
within a Soil Sensitive Area? You can Please note: It is important to have • Is the grape marc located within
check the the Environmental Smart sufficient storage available in order to 20m of any surface water body?
Map on the MDC website. www.maps. defer discharges when adverse weather • What is the moisture content of
marlborough.govt.nz/smartmaps conditions occur. the solid waste?
• Is the disposal area located within Grape marc storage and leachate • Are there measures in place to
50m of a bore? Check the Well collection: Whether you store and prevent rain and runoff entering
Locations smart map manage your grape marc waste the grape marc?
• Is the disposal area located yourself or contract another party to • Is there sufficient leachate
within 20m of a river, lake, take and manage your grape marc collection in place?
significant wetland, drainage waste, you are responsible for taking • Is the grape marc covered?
channel or within 10m of property measures to ensure plan requirements To avoid adverse effects, it is
boundaries? and the Resource Management Act recommended to store grape marc
• Is the disposal area large enough to 1991 are met. Inadequate storage and solid waste on an impermeable
not exceed the discharge rate and control measures for grape marc and surface with an impermeable leachate
soil moisture field capacity? leachate can cause significant adverse collection system.
• Do you have pH monitoring effects, including the contamination of
in place to ensure that the pH ground and/or surface water. For more information, contact
is between 4.5-9 prior to being Important questions are: the Marlborough District Council
discharged to land? Remember • Is the grape marc located within a monitoring team on 03 520 7400 or
to keep records to demonstrate Soil Sensitive Area? monitoring@marlborough.govt.nz
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Winepress February 2019 / 19Industry
Pioneer
New Zealand Winegrowers Fellow
Ivan Sutherland pulls far more than
his own weight
SOPHIE PREECE
IVAN SUTHERLAND was a little Cloudy Bay in 1986
boy when he got his first taste of and spent 18 years
rowing, “dragged down” to cox for at the helm of its
his big brother on the Wairau River. vineyards.
The Sutherland family farmed right There were
next door to the club co-founded by some difficult
his grandfather in 1910, “so I guess times in those early
you could say it was ingrained in days, he says. “I
me”, says Ivan, who has balanced a have seen three Photo by David James
lifetime commitment to rowing with over-supplies,
four decades in Marlborough’s wine wine companies unable to pay on time, For Ivan, known for his meticulous
industry. 21% interest rates, and a government- record keeping and a deep respect
In 1976, Ivan won a bronze medal subsidised vine pull, which was a for research and innovation, it was
at the Montreal Olympics with the windfall for some, but not so pleasant an exciting time of collaboration and
New Zealand eight, followed by two for others.” When phylloxera hit in the change. He has always championed
wins in World Championships - a mid ‘80s, requiring growers to replant cooperation in the industry, and was
silver in the four at Amsterdam in a founding member of the Grape
1977, and a bronze in the eight in New Growers Association (now Wine
Zealand in 1978. The next year he and
his wife Margaret, along with a cousin, “Ultimately we Marlborough) in 1980, and founding
chairman, in 2003, of the Marlborough
Robin Sutherland, bought 52 acres of
land on Dog Point Rd for $1,300 an
want to leave Wine Research Centre board (now
Marlborough Research Centre) of
acre, joining a nascent wine industry the land and which he remains a trustee.
“It’s been enjoyable belonging
inventing its rules day by day. “You
learn a certain amount of discipline its environs to the industry groups and having
and commitment with a sport such as
rowing,” says Ivan. “It would be fair to in a vastly collective discussions to come to
a unanimous decision on industry
say I transferred some of that to the
business side of the wine industry.”
improved initiatives. Not everyone agrees, but
you go with the majority and get
Forty years on, Margaret
and Ivan’s Ashmore Vineyard,
state.” behind it,” he says. “This collaboration
has happened in all our wine regions
encompassing their original land and has been an integral part of the
purchase, is the largest organic on resistant rootstock, it carried success, I believe, of the New Zealand
vineyard in New Zealand, and the unexpected opportunity, allowing the wine industry.”
wines of Dog Point Vineyards - industry to focus more on suitability And he’s not about to relax his
founded by Ivan and James Healy of variety, soil type, climate, and guard. Last year, Ivan and other
in 2002 - are some of the country’s rootstock. “You look back at all those key wine industry players launched
best. “It’s been a pretty cool journey. field days we had. Everyone was so Appellation Marlborough Wine
Margaret and I feel privileged to eager to learn. We made some mistakes (AMW), a brand designed to safeguard
be part of it,” says Ivan, who joined but you learn by those.” the global reputation of the region’s
20 / Winepress February 2019wine by protecting its “integrity, New Zealand Order of Merit in the respect in the production of quality
authenticity and brand value”. Under Queen’s Birthday Honours list of wine in a clean green environment.”
AMW, 100% of the grapes (Sauvignon 2011, for services to rowing and wine That’s going to become more and more
Blanc for now) have to come from growing. In 2014, he was awarded important, “because consumers are
Marlborough, wine has to be bottled in a Lifetime Achievement Award by continually questioning the origins
New Zealand, and cropping levels have the board of Wine Marlborough, and and composition of the products,
to be below certain parameters. late last year he was made a New along with the type of farming regime
“I have never seen the future Zealand Winegrowers Fellow for practiced”.
in big crops,” says Ivan. As with all 2018. Last month, he was awarded New Zealand’s clean green brand
major wine regions, there is a range the 2019 Viticulturist Award in the is wonderful to trade on, Ivan adds.
of price points, “but we must not lose Gourmet Traveller Wine New Zealand “But we have to be far more substantial
sight of quality wine production from Winemaker of the Year Awards. These and credible with that. We can make
quality grapes at controlled cropping are just a handful of the accolades improvements there. Ultimately
parameters. Because you cannot, in my earned, including the supreme we want to leave the land and its
opinion, have absolute quality from award for Dog Point Vineyards in the environs in a vastly improved state,
over cropped vines”. Cawthron Marlborough Environment and I strongly believe we have a social
It’s necessary for the industry Awards, recognising the rich and environmental responsibility to
to pull together to ensure the best biodiversity and environmental care achieve this.”
outcomes for Marlborough’s wine Margaret and Ivan have spearheaded Four decades after Ivan stepped
reputation as a whole, he says. “We at Dog Point. into a brand new industry, inspired
think we’re big here but we’re not that All these years on, the industry by the possibilities, he says there’ll
big when you compare to Champagne is in good heart, he told the audience never be a time to stop wondering
or Bordeaux. There’s always been a at November’s New Zealand Wine of what’s next, and looking for research,
good collaborative, collective approach the Year Awards dinner, when named creativity and innovation. “We must
and we must make sure we retain that.” as a Winegrowers Fellow. “But we always have an open mind moving
Ivan’s dedication to the industry have to be mindful that we give our forward.”
saw him made a member of the national marketing brand the upmost
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Winepress February 2019 / 21Generation
Y-ine
Wine school graduate Katie Bruce
has hit the rows running
SOPHIE PREECE
Katie Bruce at Constellation’s Awatere Hills vineyard at dawn. Photo Jim Tannock
IT’S DAWN at Constellation Brand’s since she was 12, and says she always classes for some of the science
Awatere Hills vineyard, and Katie enjoyed the holiday work it supplied, lessons, the rest of their studies were
Bruce is leaf plucking with a view. so planned to go on to tertiary study centralised, allowing for greater focus,
A month into her vineyard job, at NMIT or university. When the says Katie, whose grades climbed as
she still can’t believe the outlook, with wine school was launched, she a result. “It was awesome. I’m quite
verdant vines set against the golden leaped in, and thrived in the learning motivated when it comes to learning
corrugated hills of the Awatere Valley what I want to learn.”
and the deep blue of the Pacific Ocean. Katie worked vintage at Saint
Nor can the 17-year-old vineyard
hand believe how much she’s already “It’s different Clair Family Estate at the beginning
of the school year as part of the Wine
learned on the job, having faced not
just the vines but also irrigation and
every day and School curriculum, getting a taste of
all aspects of cellar work, from racking
tractor driving within days of starting
with the company. “It was awesome
you are always to inoculations. She was immediately
hooked. “I went into the cellar and I
- scary but fun,” she says of towing a coming across thought, ‘my gosh, this is amazing’. I
plucker in her first week. “It’s crazy. I was overwhelmed by it and decided
didn’t think I would be doing that sort new things.” that’s what I wanted to do.” But after
of thing.” vintage she was in the vineyard, and
Katie graduated from the New did an about face. “I thought, ‘whoa,
Zealand School of Winegrowing last environment, which sees students this is now what I want’. It’s different
year, the only Marlborough Girls’ tackle each of their subjects through every day and you are always coming
College student in the first intake, the lens of wine studies, including across new things.”
and is a brilliant poster child for the biology, chemistry, accounting and Late last year Katie visited the
initiative. English. Marlborough Careers Evening,
She has lived on a vineyard While they joined mainstream wondering about her next step, and
22 / Winepress February 2019You can also read
