News

Value exports of New Zealand wine jumps 25%

04 July 2023 By Arabella Mileham

New Zealand saw a 25% jump in value exports to $2.4 billion in the year to May 2023, New Zealand Winegrowers has said, despite harvest yields falling by 6% during the year.

Demand was fuelled by strong export value, the trade body said, along with increasing international demand, which saw New Zealand become the world’s 6th largest wine exporter by value, despite producing only 1% of the world’s wine.

Philip Gregan, CEO of New Zealand Winegrowers said reaching a record level of wine exports into some of the world’s largest and most competitive markets was “an outstanding achievement for New Zealand wine exporters” and testament to the “increasingly strong global demand for our wines”.

New Zealand wine, particularly Sauvignon Blanc, was going “from strength-to-strength in the USA”, he added.

Smaller yields

The vintage in South Island was excellent, the trade body said, with better growing conditions in which to complete harvest, compared to North Island, which saw “unprecedented” wet weather throughout the summer.

Gregan said that winegrower were “largely very happy” with the quality of the 2023 harvest, having worked incredibly hard to produce its premium wines.

The success of the 2023 vintage further emphasises the resilience of the industry, as surging production costs continue to impact growers and wineries, and the scarcity of skilled workers remains a concern, along with operating in an uncertain economic environment, the trade body pointed out.

Gregan also pointed to the recent inclusion of Hawke’s Bay as one of just 12 Great Wine Capitals of the world, a move he said was “of regional and national significance”, as it showed that despite being a relatively young wine producing country, New Zealand’s “offered quality to rival the world’s oldest”.

New Zealand Winegrowers also noted the return of international wine tourists to New Zealand following the easing of Covid restrictions.

“People are starting to feel more comfortable traveling internationally, and we are once again welcoming tourists to New Zealand’s shores with open arms. With over 500 small wineries in New Zealand, the majority of whom only sell domestically, having international visitors arriving at their front door again makes a big difference. Cellar doors are busy showcasing all that our unique wine regions have to offer, and alongside domestic holidaymakers, international tourists will be a welcome support for wine businesses.”

Last week Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) launched an official wine map of Marlborough, delineating the region for the first time, in order to highlight that not all of the region’s wines “taste the same”.