Rural / Country

Bumper season for Hawke's Bay wineries

08:08 am on 30 September 2014

Warm, sunny weather has led to some Hawke's Bay wineries reporting record profits.

The findings from the 2014 Viticulture Monitoring Report show a positive outlook for the industry as a whole.

The report is largely based on interviews with contract grape growers and wineries, and showed bumper seasons for winemakers in Hawke's Bay and Marlborough.

The Marlborough model shows a 25 percent increase in profit before tax for the 2013-14 year, while in Hawke's Bay it jumped to 139 percent.

The Ministry for Primary Industries' director of sector policy, Jarred Mair, said it is a real boost for the industry, especially as it is a significant contributor to New Zealand's economy.

New Zealand Winegrowers' chief executive Philip Gregan said it shows how growers are emerging well from some difficult years after realising that there is fine line between supply and demand.