Monday, 09 March 2015 14:52

Record wine exports mark the start of vintage 2015

Written by Rural News Group

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Wine exports have reached a record high and now stand at $1.37 billion, up 8.2%, propelling wine to New Zealand's 6th biggest export product.

This strong demand in key markets bodes well for the wine industry, whose 2015 grape harvest is now underway.

Prospects for a high quality vintage are looking very positive due to the superb summer weather says Philip Gregan, CEO of New Zealand Winegrowers.

"The warm dry summer of 2015 has been absolutely perfect for growing and ripening grapes. As we move into autumn the prospect is for an outstanding, albeit smaller, vintage in all our grape-growing regions".

Although the expectation is that the 2015 vintage will be significantly smaller than last year, Gregan says the sales in the year ahead will be supported by retained stocks from vintage 2014.

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