(Stuff) - Picking has begun in the country's largest grape-growing regions amidst wine industry predictions that 2016 will produce a bumper harvest.

Some early grapes have already come off the vines in Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and Marlborough, although most winemakers will not begin harvesting their first fruit for at least another fortnight.

The relatively dry, warm conditions around the country over January and February are forecast to continue through until next month, meaning winemakers are smacking their lips in anticipation of a large harvest of well-ripened fruit.

"In general terms, the weather has been good through summer," New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan said.

"We've had a good combination of heat and rain and I think people will be happy at the moment. Fingers crossed."

Grape grower Xan Harding, the deputy chairman of Hawke's Bay Winegrowers, said the region's long-term forecast through the upcoming harvest season was "looking marvellous".

Warm, dry conditions were predicted to continue in Hawke's Bay, allowing grapes to fully ripen in the final weeks before picking.

"The vineyards in Hawke's Bay are very well positioned to have another really good year. We've had rain when we've needed it but overall it's been a fairly dry season in terms of the number of warm, sunny days and we can't ask for more than that."

Harvest kicked off last week in Marlborough, the country's largest wine region, with the picking of a small amount of pinot noir grapes to be used to produce sparkling wine.

Chardonnay and pinot noir for sparkling usually make up the first grapes to be picking in the year, along with less-ripened fruit that is used to produce lower-alcohol wine.

Paul Mooney, winemaker at Hawke's Bay's Mission Estate, said his company would take in its first fruit next week – pinot gris grapes for a low-alcohol wine it produces.

Mooney agreed conditions over summer had set the scene for a good harvest.

The industry crushed 326,000 tonnes of grapes last year, down from 445,000 tonnes in 2014. This year's positive growing conditions are expected to see numbers up again to 2014 levels, a situation Gregan said would be welcomed by producers.