New Zealand’s exports represent 10.8 million litres, or 14.4 million bottles, with a value of 101.7 million New Zealand dollars (equivalent to 47 Million Euros). They have thus beaten their own record in value and volume. In the third trimester 2008, export sales have represtented more than 121 million Euros. “These numbers reflect a continuing growth in the demand for our wines”, states the delighted President of the New Zealand Vintner Association, Philip Gregan.
In 1998, New Zealand exported for only 98 million NZ dollars worth of wine per year. For Gregan, this tremendous progression is a direct result of the NZ industry’s constant effort to meet the market’s demand. Which requires constant vigilance, as the market constantely changes and reinvents itself. Over the recent months, sales to Australia are booming, thanks to the enthusiastic uptake of the emerging grape varieties on the market: Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. NZ producers have conjectured this tendancy, and are here to deliver. “We are benefitting from good development on the Australian market, which was our main export market in August, even outstripping the United Kingdom, for the first time in our history. Still, the Sauvignon Blanc continues to stay our biggest varietal export. We are on track to meet 2010 objectives: 1 billion dollars in annual export (about 465 million Euros)”, Gregan concludes.