Hawke's Bay to Host Great Wine Capitals Conference 2026
The 26th Great Wine Capitals International Annual Conference will be held in Hawke's Bay from 18 - 22 October, in a landmark moment for New Zealand's wine and tourism industries.
While Champagne imports have declined as prices rise, other sparkling wines of the world continue to perform strongly here, highlighting the ongoing popularity of the category among Kiwis.
For Vilaura founding director Jascha Oldham-Selak, the figures point to room for growth for New Zealand producers.
"The trend could create opportunities for regions grappling with oversupply," he says. "Traditional method bottle fermented sparkling wines are predominantly made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, varieties currently facing pressure in many regions of the industry."
The challenge for New Zealand producers begins with educating domestic consumers about the differences between in-line carbonated sparkling wines, tank-pressurised sparkling wines and Méthode Traditionnelle wines, Jascha says.
"Méthode Traditionnelle is the most premium style and often spends three or more years ageing in bottle before disgorgement and release to market".
