Harvest 2026
As the final fruit arrives and tanks begin to settle, Vintage 2026 has officially wrapped across Booster Wine Group’s regions — from Hawke’s Bay and Nelson to the Awatere Valley.
With harvest complete and many of our seasonal teams now beginning their journey home, it feels like the right moment to pause and reflect on a season defined by long days, teamwork, and optimism for the wines now beginning their journey.
While every region experienced a different season, one theme consistently emerged: people make the difference.
Estimated read time: 4 min read
Hawke’s Bay: “Sweat and a Smile”
Sileni Harvest Team 2026
At Sileni Estates in Hawke’s Bay, James reflected on a season driven by collaboration and momentum.
“A small and diverse team came together over the last days of summer, each finding and owning their space in the heat of vintage. The team meshed, the harvest got done with sweat and a smile.”
For James, the excitement now shifts toward the wines themselves.
“Chardonnay with abundant ripe citrus and stonefruit and fantastic natural acidity, dense dark fruited Syrah with amazing aromatic lift, and expressive but balanced Sauvignon Blanc.”
It’s a promising early signal for another strong Hawke’s Bay vintage.
Awatere Valley: Care Behind the Craft
Awatere River Harvest Team 2026
For Helen and the team at Awatere River, Vintage 2026 was another reminder that exceptional wine begins with exceptional people.
“It really is the people that make the difference. The care and attention from the staff is what really helps craft the wine and take it to the next level.”
Helen also highlighted the early quality already showing in tank:
“At this stage we are very excited about our wines and the quality that is there in tank, and we hope people get to experience them in store later this year.”
From Marlborough’s cooler southern reaches to the warmth of Hawke’s Bay and the precision of Nelson winemaking, Vintage 2026 reflects the care, commitment and collaboration of many hands.
The wines are only just beginning their journey, but if the season is anything to go by, there is plenty to look forward to in the months ahead.
Nelson: Precision at Waimea
Waimea Harvest Team 2026
In Nelson, harvest has now wrapped at Gravity Winery, where fruit from Waimea and surrounding vineyards has completed its journey from vine to tank.
Brett reflected positively on both the fruit quality and the team behind the season:
“Vintage has finally finished here at Waimea for 2026. We have seen some amazing fruit and the wines are looking very classy. The team did an amazing job this year and I can’t wait to see the finished wines.”
As wines settle into their next stage of development, the focus turns from harvest intensity to patience and craft.
As the pace of harvest gives way to patience in the winery, we want to extend our sincere thanks to every person who contributed to Vintage 2026. From vineyard crews and cellar teams to seasonal workers and winemakers, the care behind this season will soon be reflected in every bottle. We look forward to sharing these wines with you in the months ahead.