NZ Wine a Popular Drop

New Zealand wine is becoming increasingly popular for Australian drinkers with exports across the Tasman up by 31 per cent to $323 million in the 2008/09 financial year, according to the New Zealand Winegrowers annual report. Industry chief executive Philip Gregan said Australians were most keen on New Zealand’s trademark white varieties, sauvignon blanc and pinot gris as well as its most popular red, pinot noir. Sauvignon blanc, by far the biggest export wine, is now the best-selling white wine in the Australian market. The strong sales surge has been driven not just by demand but increased supply from the 2008 vintage. “We had an oversupply and as we discovered with Australia and the world, if you make they will come,” Gregan said.