Waipara was buffeted by frequent strong winds in late spring and early summer which coincided with the period when the grapes were in flower. It impaired pollination and thus quite markedly reduced the crop level.

Cool weather over the flowering period in the spring meant that fertilization was slowed and hence the crop of grapes was substantially reduced. This has favoured extra concentration in the resulting wine. The summer weather which followed, however, was excellent, and the autumn warm and dry, enabling us to harvest optimally ripened, healthy fruit...