Quartz Reef owner and general manager Rudi Bauer works on the first day of the sparkling grape harvest on Monday. Quartz Reef owner and winemaker Rudi Bauer said the region’s harvest started on Monday, 10 days later than usual, but in perfect "Indian summer" conditions. So long as vineyards had good canopy and fruit density management the quality would be good, Mr Bauer said. So far it was looking like it would be good harvest and hopes were high, he said. "You pick a bit earlier and you make sure you retain the acidity — that’s the two key factors [for sparkling wine]," Mr Bauer said.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 17, 2026 15:38 UTC