Fury is fermenting among Queenstown’s Gibbston vineyard owners and viticulturists who claim an Auckland rich-lister’s inaction could undermine the local wine industry.
Gary Crabbe, a viticulturist in the area since 1999, alleges the former Anthem vineyard — renamed Drystone — has been "abandoned" by property developer owner Tim Edney.
As a result, airborne powdery mildew has already taken hold of the vines planted across the more than 50ha vineyard.
The fungi is spreading through neighbouring vineyards within a kilometre.
Mr Crabbe claimed Mr Edney, who bought the vineyard from businessman Dave Henderson, had "abdicated all responsibility" relating to maintenance of the vines which had the potential to bankrupt neighbouring vineyards.
Mr Edney said he was not aware of the issue and promised to investigate further.
It is understood some helicopter spray work was done on the vineyard last year.
That mitigated the effects to a degree, but the mildew, which must be treated regularly, started to make its presence felt at the end of last season, and it was getting worse.
Mr Edney said he thought the work done last year meant the problem had been resolved.
Mr Crabbe was concerned Mr Edney was trying to "force our hand to take care of his land for him".
He approached New Zealand Winegrowers who suggested the vineyard be sprayed by others and the bill sent to Mr Edney.
"I would estimate the bill is over $100,000, as a collective," Mr Crabbe said.
NZ Winegrowers sustainability general manager Dr Edwin Massey said powdery mildew was one of the wine industry’s most common pests.
Vigilance was needed to keep on top of it through spring and summer.
Mr Crabbe said the spores survived through winter and unless it was treated, a "train wreck" was on its way.
"Come this spring and summer, I’m going to get devastated and owners are going to start screaming at me saying, ‘we’re getting no crop’ and ... some of these vineyards might go bankrupt."
He looked after 16 vineyards in Gibbston, six of which were affected.
Kinross co-owner John Erkkila said dealing with Drystone’s powdery mildew had already cost them "hundreds of thousands of dollars".
"We got away with it last year, but the year before we lost a whole stack of grapes because of it and then the amount of cost in spraying and everything to deal with it ... It’s just an outrage.
"As soon as it comes in, once it gets hold, you lose all your production."
It was also putting a "massive strain" on Kinross’ conversion to organic.
Another viticulturist, who declined to be named, alleged parts of Drystone had been left to go to ruin and had become an "infection block" for Gibbston.
He said the matter was dire and had wide-reaching implications.
"That is the worst billboard for our wine tourism that you could imagine."
The Otago Regional Council (ORC) should step in, he said.
Mr Crabbe said he lodged a complaint through the ORC’s pollution hotline, but the council was not interested.
Council environmental implementation manager Libby Caldwell said while there had been no recent report lodged with it about powdery mildew, the council referred the inquiry to Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
"There is no action for ORC at this point until MPI undertake any investigation."
MPI said it was not on biosecurity’s radar and if the fungi was putting other vineyards at risk, it was a matter for the regional council, or NZ Winegrowers.
By Tracey Roxburgh and Philip Chandler
