The vineyard experienced a cool, wet December when the vines were in flower, which resulted in poor pollination and a very low crop.  The rest of the summer was very good and the autumn warm and dry.  Leaves were removed in the fruiting zone ...

Heavy nor’west wind was frequent over the period of flowering of the grapes which impaired their pollination and lead to a small crop of grapes setting on the vines. The rest of the season, however, was excellent with good heat accumulation over the summer and autumn. The fruit was thus beautifully ripe and in optimal condition when harvested.

Prima Donna is only made in special vintages. The whole growing season was ideal apart from the period when the vines were in flower. This was the coldest and wettest December Waipara has ever experienced and as a result the number of berries setting was extremely low, resulting in the smallest crops we have seen. Because of this the wine has extra concentration and depth.

The whole growing season was ideal apart from the period when the vines were in flower.  This was the coldest and wettest December Waipara has ever experienced and as a result the number of berries setting was extremely low, resulting in the smallest crops we have seen.  Because of this the wine has extra concentration and depth...

Cool weather over late spring and early summer affected the pollination of the grape flowers and led to a marked reduction in the amount of fruit setting in our block of Mendoza Chardonnay, a clone which, even at the best of times, has only low crops...

December, when the vines were in flower, was the coldest and wettest in over a century. This resulted in an exceptionally low crop of grapes “setting” and thus giving the wine special concentration and depth. At the start of January the berries were lagging behind in their development. The rest of the summer and autumn were warm and dry which enabled the grapes to catch up, ripen perfectly and yet retain fresh vibrant fruit flavours with good levels of acidity...

December, when the vines were in flower, was the coldest and wettest in over a century. This resulted in an exceptionally low crop of grapes “setting”, which has given the wine special concentration and depth. At the start of January, however, the berries were lagging behind in their development...

The whole growing season was ideal apart from the period when the vines were in flower. This was the coldest and wettest December Waipara has ever experienced and as a result the number of berries setting was extremely low, resulting in the smallest crops we have seen. Because of this the wine has extra concentration and depth.