The Central Otago wine harvest got off to a sparkling start yesterday.
The start of the harvest was heralded by workers at Quartz Reef's Bendigo vineyard picking pinot noir grapes which will be blended with chardonnay to make sparkling wines.
Quartz Reef winemaker Rudi Bauer said the harvest was "a touch earlier" than last year.
The pinot noir grapes are a different clone to those used for still wine and the crop is picked early and fermented twice, the second time in the bottle.
About 100 tonnes of the grapes would be picked this week for the sparkling wines.
The main harvest of the district's grape crop was expected to begin in about a month, Mr Bauer said.
"Generally speaking, for the district, I think [the season has] been good and we're all hoping for the continuation of this awesome weather until the harvest finishes at the end of April."
Mr Bauer leaves next week to represent New Zealand at what has been dubbed the "Oscars" of the international wine industry.
He is the first New Zealander to be nominated for the winemaker of the year award at the Der Feinschmecker Wine Awards in Germany.
"Obviously, it's an honour for the region, and for New Zealand wine-making, as well," he said.
The award ceremony will be held in Cologne, Germany, on March 20.
