New Zealand wine exports have risen in volume and value for three straight years, even as global consumption falls. Viticulturist and 2023 New Zealand Winegrowers Fellow Dr David Jordan says the country’s Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc sits exactly where the market is heading.

“Consumers are voting with their feet, and maybe their palates, to move away from full-bodied red wines into lighter, fresher white wine styles,” he says.

“With about 90% of the industry in that one variety, the trend has run in New Zealand’s favour.”

He says the regions outside Marlborough are taking the sharpest swings, with about half the East Coast’s vineyards pulled out over the past year. Switching land use carries a heavy capital outlay, so many growers are holding on and cutting inputs to weather the downturn.

He says with the newly signed India Free Trade Agreement, India is a longer-term prospect with tariffs coming down from 150% towards 75%. It opens a wealthy, well-travelled market for fresh white wines.

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.

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