New Zealand wine exports hit all time high
New Zealand’s wine exports hit a new high last year, rising 8.2 percent to NZ$1.37bn, according to the country’s wine marketing body, New Zealand Winegrowers. Wine became the country’s sixth biggest export commodity, albeit still lagging behind traditional sectors such as dairy and meat. Exports have doubled in volume terms since 2008 and have risen by 60% by value over the same period.
New Zealand’s 2015 grape harvest is getting under way, although it is set to be ‘significantly smaller’ than the record 2014 crop.
New Zealand Winegrowers' CEO, Philip Gregan, said ‘superb’ summer weather had enhanced the chances of a top quality harvest in 2015.
Crop levels are likely to be well down on 2014’s record harvest, when some 445,000 tonnes of grapes were picked, up 29% on the year before.
