New Zealand Wine Exports Hit Record

New Zealand wine exports topped half a billion New Zealand dollars ($320 million) for the first time in the year ended June 30, the New Zealand Winegrowers annual report said Tuesday.

The value of wine exports increased 18 percent over 2005 exports to 512 million New Zealand dollars ($328 million), said the industry’s just-published annual review.

Exports of the pinot noir variety grew 55 percent to overtake chardonnay as New Zealand’s second most exported wine style behind top export variety, sauvignon blanc.

Domestic and export wine sales topped 26 million gallons and the 2006 grape harvest of 204,000 short tons was a record _ 11 percent up on the 2004 record of 181,000 short tons.

Winegrowers chairman Brian Vieceli said exports were forecast to surge 17 percent to more than 18.2 million gallons in 2007 from around 15.6 million gallons in 2006.

Despite wine gluts around the world for some varieties, there was still unfulfilled demand for New Zealand wine, particularly top variety, sauvignon blanc, he noted.

The wine industry had achieved solid growth in key export markets, while also growing in emerging markets such as Japan, Holland and Ireland.

‘The record 2006 harvest will give us wine volumes to consolidate our presence in new markets and continue supply of our top three markets including the U.K., USA. and Australia,’ Vieceli said.

Vineyard plantings were expected to expand by 36 percent to 74,000 acres by 2010 from the current planted level of 54,300 acres, he noted.

Source: topix.net