Montana vineyards development manager Andrew Graney described the harvest this season as exceptionally good. However with only approximately 10% of the crop harvested, he is hoping the weather stays in their favour.
"We have taken in a percentage of the Pinot Noir and it's looking very good with a reasonable crop yield. Until it's in the bag it pays to be conservative but the crop out there is looking significantly better than what we saw last year."
He described struggles and issues with the weather over the new year period when rain applied pressure, through the production of high vigour in the canopy. "We have come through that now, and because of that we have good moisture availability in the ground, and a reasonably good balance in our vines, and in turn the fine weather we are experiencing at the moment is finishing the ripening. But these are still very early days."
Together with the 160 hectare Condors forest development, Montana have put in a 60 hectare development in north Canterbury with plans for another 80-90 hectares this year. Andrew is also involved in capital purchasing for the vineyards and recently purchased a number of New Holland tractors through the Williams Service Centre, via CB Norwood, the importer in Palmerston North.
Predominantly the New Holland TNF range, a narrow tractor that gives good manoeuvrability in their narrow rows. The standard 3 metre rows are being replaced with 2.4 and 2 metre rows in the new developments, so with all the variation the TNF fits well with plenty of room in the 2.4 metre rows. They also have some TNV range for the 2 metre rows.
"It is a great tractor for it's size, plenty of horsepower. I've always been impressed with driver comfort in the cab, they are well laid out, all in all a nicely finished tractor. We have in excess of 20 machines. It's something that is changing, on an average year we purchase a half dozen tractors. The new developments take the majority of tractor purchasing, but we also have a retirement policy so the older ones are constantly being updated with New Holland tractors."
