The 1997–1998 El Niño was regarded as one of the most powerful El Niño–Southern Oscillation events in recorded history and we now know the 1998 vintage produced some of the greatest and longest lived Hawke's Bay red wines. NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Ass) states in a Dec 2023 blog, “There’s a 54% chance that this (2023/24) El Niño event will end up “historically strong”, potentially ranking in the top 5 on record.”In this blog I breakdown wh ..read more

An El Nino weather pattern has been declared in Australia and is likely to be declared in New Zealand very soon.I won't go into detail about El Nino and La Nina and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). You can google the detail or visit NIWA niwa.co.nz/climate/information-and-resources/elninoWe are always very interested in this weather pattern because it has significant influence on weather in the vineyard. An El Nino weather pattern is generally good for us and La Nina weather pattern general ..read more

Here we look at the interesting story behind Pinot Noir and why Grasshopper Rock is dedicated to Pinot Noir.Pinot Noir is one of the world’s oldest known grapes and its origins go back centuries to northeast France and most notably the Burgundy and Champagne regions. It seems likely Pinot Noir originated from the domestication of wild vines growing there but not everyone agrees on this and some believe it was brought by invaders from Lombardy.Pinot Noir is unquestionably the most expressive of ..read more

Recent reports on New Zealand's annual vintage statistics have made waves, highlighting the wine industry's remarkable success. The total value of New Zealand's wine exports (year to May 2023) has surged by 25% compared to the previous year, reaching an impressive 2.4 billion. With this surge, wine has now become New Zealand's fifth-largest export, attributing much of its latest triumph to a record-breaking harvest last year.While these headline figures paint a promising picture for the industry ..read more

Grasshopper Rock’s 2013 vintage pinot noir keeps on giving ten years on.Back in 2013 when this vineyard was only 10 years old we did not know with any certainty how well the wine would age and we certainly did not anticipate the wine would still be awarded an outstanding rating (95 points) by a Master of Wine when opened 10 years later in 2023.As Central Otago’s Pinot Noir vineyards mature, we are starting to better understand why the best wines can and do age so gracefully.I recently tasted ..read more

Open That Bottle Night is the one day of the year to make sure you open that bottle.That bottle is the one you have saved, been given, or carefully purchased for a special occasion but still haven’t opened. The last Saturday in February is the day. This year it is the 25th of February.Time slips by and the special occasion maybe hasn’t arrived or maybe you forgot about that bottle.That bottle may be a special wine you love but only have a one or very few of. That bottle may be a wine you hav ..read more

When the last grapes are picked for the season, we take time to reflect on what the vines have delivered and try and understand what the defining moments for the vintage were. This 2023 vintage is our 18th and one of our more challenging in recent years. We have come through well in the circumstances and feel fortunate we missed the direct impact of Cyclone Gabrielle which impact many in the North Island. Gabrielle was a massive weather system and the most damaging cyclone to hit northern New Ze ..read more

Competition AwardsAccoladesFine Wines of New Zealand Classic Wine of New Zealand - Michael CooperTop Wineries of New Zealand 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022 - The Real ReviewWine Classification of New Zealeand - 2 Merits - The Real ReviewReviewsBob Campbell MW – The Real Review - 94/100Taut, elegant, high-energy wine with bramble/hedgerow, cherry, violet, saline/mineral and subtle oak flavours supported by fine, peppery tannins. A youthful wine that promises to develop nicely over the next few yea ..read more

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2022 was the most enjoyable harvest for many years with no weather pressure and perfectly clean and ripe pinot noir grapes. Everyone is excited about the 2022 vintage. The vintage was slightly warmer than average. 972 growing degree days versus our average of 942. However, as always what really matters is what happens month by month at critical times. During flowering in December, the weather was cloudier and wetter than normal which caused temperatures to drop and there was less flower germina ..read more