Waitaki Valley vineyards escaped the ''weather bomb'' that threatened the industry in Central Otago this month.
Snowfall during a cold snap in the second week of November raised concerns frosts would affect emerging buds in vineyards. However, Waitaki Valley Wine Growers Association chairman Andrew Ballantyne told Central Rural Life on Saturday ''we basically had zero damage''.
''The whole valley has come through.
''We've had a pretty good start to the season.''
Warm weather at the end of October had been welcome after a good amount of rain throughout the winter, Mr Ballantyne said.
Shoots on the vines had grown rapidly before November began and would extend by almost 2cm a day at this time of year in favourable conditions.
The Waitaki Valley has about 41ha of vineyards that produce 12,000 cases of wine a year.