CorkSavvy

Talk about extremes: Australia is having one of its worst harvests in history due to extreme drought while New Zealand is having such a huge crop that vineyards are considering tipping out wine to make room in their tanks for the current grape harvest. The crop is so large this year that Constellation, New Zealand’s second largest wine producer, is considering leaving over 600 tons of grapes on the vine in Gisborn, New Zealand; this decision would lead to a 3% reduction in the 24,000 tons normally harvested according to Constellation chief executive, Joe Stanton as reported by The New Zealand Herald. The company and its growers, who would still be paid for their grapes, would have the opportunity to turn a profit by harvesting and selling the grapes, if they can find a buyer. Constellations brands include: Drylands, Nobilo (including Kim Crawford and Monkey Bay) and Selaks.

Montana, another wine producer in New Zealand, also forecasts a robust harvest of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Gris grapes due to the desirable weather conditions that New Zealand enjoyed this year.

According to the New Zealand National Business Review, the poor global economic atmosphere is stirring up concern among the New Zealand wine brands, who fear that as demand is slowing there could be overproduction and “dumping” of wine at low prices thereby devaluing the New Zealand wine brands. Last year Australia replaced the UK as the top wine export location for New Zealand wines.

Needless to say, there is plenty of wine in New Zealand, and this is the time to celebrate the harvest. The following are some of the festivals to enjoy:
Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival,  March 21, 2009
Canberra District Wine Harvest Festival, April 4-5, 2009
Vilagrad Harvest Festival 2009, April 25, 2009, May 2&9, 2009
Gibbston Harvest Festival, March 21, 2009
The Clyde Wine and Food Harvest Festival, April 12, 2009
Hot Red Hawke’s Bay Wine Expo, July 7-9, 2009