Early pickings in Hawke’s Bay making for great wine – 2026 vintage report
April 17, 2026
Three Hawke's Bay wineries are picking 2026 to be their best vintage yet.
An exceptionally early start to the grape harvest in Hawke's Bay is translating into what many winemakers are anticipating will be a superior 2026 vintage. Favorable weather conditions throughout the growing season have resulted in pristine fruit, prompting a wave of optimism across New Zealand's oldest wine region. The harvest, which for some vineyards was the earliest in over four decades, is now largely complete, with the resulting wines showing immense promise in their early stages of development.
The foundation for this promising vintage was laid by a "kind" season, as one winemaker described it. The region experienced one of its hottest springs on record, leading to an early start to the growing cycle. A warm spring was followed by successful flowering and fruit set. While January saw some rainfall, which helped maintain moisture in the soil, February and March were significantly drier, creating ideal conditions for the final stages of ripening and harvesting. This weather pattern allowed the grapes to be picked in what has been described as "impeccably clean" and "pristine" condition.
Harvesting activities began notably early, with some growers starting to pick Chardonnay grapes as early as mid-February, a full week or more ahead of a typical year. For veteran winemaker Tony Bish, it was the earliest harvest in his 45-year career, a sentiment echoed by others in the region who had to accelerate their preparations. The early ripening was not confined to a single variety; after Chardonnay, other grapes like Pinot Noir, Albariño, and Chenin Blanc quickly reached maturity, leading to a condensed but high-quality harvest period for many.
Winemakers across Hawke's Bay have been vocal about the outstanding quality of the fruit. The warm days and cooler autumn nights in the lead-up to picking have been crucial for developing excellent flavor profiles while retaining good acidity. Initial reports from wineries indicate that both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have been "superb". The quality is so high that there is a belief this vintage could further solidify Hawke's Bay's reputation for producing premium wines on the world stage. There is a palpable sense of excitement as the industry now moves from the vineyards into the wineries to craft what they hope will be memorable wines.
This successful harvest marks a continuation of strong vintages for the region, building on the successes of 2024 and 2025. Following challenges in previous years, including those posed by Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023, a string of positive seasons has been a welcome development. As the young wines of 2026 begin their journey in barrels and tanks, the consensus among Hawke's Bay's wine community is one of profound optimism for a vintage that may well be remembered as exceptional.
Source: nzherald