Tim Morrison-Deaker
Gibbston wine growers received a brisk wake-up call
yesterday morning when a frosty start to the day made wind
machines kick into action.
The early morning start of about 6am came after many of the
valley's wine growers and viticulturists had been enjoying a
night of celebration after the annual Gibbston Harvest
Festival, organiser Tim Morrison-Deaker said.
About 1800 people turned up to enjoy a sunny day at the
festival on Saturday and taste food and new-release wines
from Gibbston.
Yesterday's 2degC frost was early, with the first frost not
usually arriving until the start of April, Mr Morrison-Deaker
said.
However, while the wind machines averted any potential damage
to this year's Gibbston crop, the season was running late
after an early frost in February put it two weeks behind, he
said.
Despite this, many of the wine growers were "pretty stoked"
with the development of Gibbston grapes this year and were
relaxing at the festival.
It was the last "hoo-ha" before the grape harvest began for
many of the region's wine makers, he said.
Among them was wine grower Domenic Mondillo of Mondillo and
Gibbston Valley Wines, who predicted the Gibbston harvest
would be up to a couple of weeks late this year.
Grant Taylor of Gibbston's Valli Vineyard predicted a good
crop from the Gibbston but expected to be harvesting his
Gibbston Pinot Noir on target towards the end of April.
About 1800 people attended Saturday's festival, held for the
first time next to The Winehouse and Kitchen, beside the
Kawarau Bridge.
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