Less sun and cooler temperatures have slowed down the 2011-12 growing season in New Zealand’s largest winegrowing region, Marlborough. The result is a later harvest, with picking machines due to start work two weeks later than usual. Currently the size of the 2012 vintage looks to be around 10% below average, although more of the rain experienced recently could increase crop weights and dilute the ultimate wine, as happened in 2005. So far sunshine hours are 9.5% below the 30-year average for the region for December and January, the prime ripening period. Temperatures have also been lower than average throughout the growing season, by around 10%.