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CLIMATE
Martinborough produces grapes with great flavour and complexity due to its cool climate. The days are dry and nights fresh, which builds depth of flavour over many months. Martinborough has four sharply defined seasons and is the North Island’s driest spot.
Extreme weather patterns are rare, although the district is prone to spring frosts. In the event of frost in the Martinborough township, the Southdown site is typically 2°C warmer due to the katabatic breeze that flows down the sloping hills over the vineyard blocks.
Martinborough has one of longest growing seasons (from flowering to harvest) in New Zealand. With significant temperature variation between day and night (which is referred to as the diurnal range), windy conditions to control vine vigour in the spring and a warm, settled autumn ripening means low-yielding grapes with great intensity of flavour.
Grape growth and harvest cycle:
- Budburst - Early September
- Flowering – Mid December
- Veraison - February
- Harvest - Late March through to April
Climatic characteristics of the vineyard:
- Average rainfall is 780mm a year, falling mostly in winter and spring
- With 1080 - 1180 Growing Degree Days on average, conditions are good for flowering and ripening grapes
- Summer temperatures peak on average at 32-34°C, with nights of 10°C
- During winter cold nights (-5 to 0°C) are common
- Strong north-west winds through spring regulate flowering and crop levels while reducing vigour in growing season
