Growing grapes for wine in Aotearoa offers good prospects. The industry is thriving. Understanding market dynamics and the best grape-growing practices is vital. They help growers profit in this expanding sector.
Priority
Indicator
This factsheet describes the key things you'll need to think about if you're considering growing wine grapes on your whenua.
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How to use this information safely
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The information provided is indicative only. Its purpose is to support initial conversations and for screening and scoping land use options at a local area level, but it is less accurate at the scale of an individual farm. If you want to make land use change decisions for your specific farm or land block you should conduct further feasibility assessments with a suitably qualified consultant.
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Wine grapes need well-drained, nutrient-poor soil and a depth of at least 30cm. Whenua that is flat or gently rolling is best suited to allow machinery access.
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Using this information safely
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The information on this page is indicative only. You can safely use this information for conversations and for screening and scoping land use options at a local area level, but it is less accurate at the scale of an individual farm. If you want to make land use change decisions for your specific farm or land block you should conduct further investigations or consult an expert.
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About the crop suitability model
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The information on this page is based on crop suitability models created by researchers at Plant and Food Research in 2021. They used climate data from NIWA and land data from Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research to create the models and then weighted and fine-tuned the results with the help of horticultural experts and industry data.
It is important to understand that the information on this page is indicative only and does not take into account things like existing land uses or pest and disease risk. It also does not take into account rainfall, so even if the model says your rōhe is suitable for a land use you may still need to consider irrigation and drainage. Because the data is averaged out over a grid it may not take into account small land features or local climate variations.
If you’re comfortable using data and mapping tools or you’d like to explore more about Whitiwhiti Ora and their datasets, visit their website.
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This table shows a per hectare breakdown of how suitable your whenua is to grow pinot noir wine grapes.
This table shows different greenhouse gas emission scenarios and the possible impact on the suitability of your whenua to grow pinot noir wine grapes.
| Low emissions |
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| Moderate emissions |
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| High emissions |
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| No mitigations |
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| Low emissions |
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| Moderate emissions |
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| High emissions |
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| No mitigations |
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The potential yield for wine grapes for pinot noir is the most berries that can be harvested from your whenua. This is with ideal growing conditions and proper farming.
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Using this information safely
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The information on this page is indicative only. You can safely use this information for conversations and for screening and scoping land use options at a local area level, but it is less accurate at the scale of an individual farm. If you want to make land use change decisions for your specific farm or land block you should conduct further investigations or consult an expert.
-
-
About the crop suitability model
-
The information on this page is based on crop suitability models created by researchers at Plant and Food Research in 2021. They used climate data from NIWA and land data from Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research to create the models and then weighted and fine-tuned the results with the help of horticultural experts and industry data. Crop yield values were estimated by experts using published data.
It is important to understand that the information on this page is indicative only and does not take into account things like existing land uses or pest and disease risk. It also does not take into account rainfall, so even if the model says your rōhe is suitable for a land use you may still need to consider irrigation and drainage. Because the data is averaged out over a grid it may not take into account small land features or local climate variations.
If you’re comfortable using data and mapping tools or you’d like to explore more about Whitiwhiti Ora and their datasets, visit their website.
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This table shows a per hectare breakdown of the potential yield of pinot noir wine grapes on your whenua.
Growing wine grapes can be profitable, but it depends on many factors. It is important to understand the wine industry and market demand.
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Using this information safely
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Economic factors are highly dependent on management practices and market conditions so the information on this page is indicative only. You can safely use this information for conversations and for screening and scoping land use options at a regional level, but it is not accurate at the scale of an individual farm. If you want to make land use change decisions for your specific farm or land block you should conduct further investigations or consult an expert.
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About the information
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The information on this page was developed by LWP Ltd based on published economic data from industry bodies and crop suitability models created by researchers at Plant and Food Research in 2021. The underlying yield and production values are estimates based on a number of assumptions and do not take into account quality control or pest and disease impacts. FTE values were calculated using a standard cost assumption of $52,345/FTE.
If you’re comfortable using data and mapping tools or you’d like to explore more about Whitiwhiti Ora and their datasets, visit their website.
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Growing wine grapes for pinot noir need skilled and unskilled workers on a seasonal basis. This workforce will help with planting and harvesting, as well as pest management and crop cycles.
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Using this information safely
-
Economic factors are highly dependent on management practices and market conditions so the information on this page is indicative only. You can safely use this information for conversations and for screening and scoping land use options at a regional level, but it is not accurate at the scale of an individual farm. If you want to make land use change decisions for your specific farm or land block you should conduct further investigations or consult an expert.
-
-
About the information
-
The information on this page was developed by LWP Ltd based on published economic data from industry bodies and crop suitability models created by researchers at Plant and Food Research in 2021. The underlying yield and production values are estimates based on a number of assumptions and do not take into account quality control or pest and disease impacts. FTE values were calculated using a standard cost assumption of $52,345/FTE.
If you’re comfortable using data and mapping tools or you’d like to explore more about Whitiwhiti Ora and their datasets, visit their website.
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