If you think Australia had a hard time of 2003, pity New Zealand’s wine industry whose crop is a staggering 45% lower than that of 2002. Spring frost in eastern North and South Island regions and cool temperatures during flowering combined to reduce the crop to 65,000 tonnes. While the industry is saying that the large 2002 vintage will help makers tough it out, there’s little doubt that many makers will miss the near-instant cash generated by exports of unwooded sauvignon blanc.



