Delegat's reported a 57% increase in profit, which it saw as testimony to the power of a quality brand in difficult economic times.
The maker of Oyster Bay wine is paying an 8c a share fully imputed final dividend on October 23, up from 6c last year.
The $30.05 million profit in the year to June 30 was achieved on a 37% increase in revenue to $229.4 million.
The company predicted a profit between $30 million and $31 million in an update in July.
The group sold 1.738 million cases of wine, up 20% on last year.
The profit was a record, as was last year's.
Mr Timms said the result was solid and welcomed by the market.
Among the highlights listed by the company were that Oyster Bay Marlborough sauvignon blanc won the premium white wine of the year for the fourth consecutive year at the Australian Liquor Industry Awards 2008, the same wine was the fastest growing top 10 imported wine brand by value over $US10 in the United states and it was the biggest selling bottled wine by value in Australia.
"They have been robust through the recession and they make premium wines. It shows that all the hard work of previous years has helped them weather the recession," he said.
But the company was being cautious about the current year, saying volatile and unfavourable exchanges rates and an uncertain economic outlook made forecasting difficult.
"In our view the current challenging business environment is likely to prevail throughout 2010," chairman Robert Wilton said.
"Nevertheless, in the 2010 financial year the group expects to achieve continued sales growth and a profit result at least in line with the past year's record performance."
The performance this year reflected the strength, quality and integrity of the group's business model and demand for the Oyster Bay brand, he said.
Cashflow from operating activities has increased from $8.3 million in the 2008 year to $42.6 million in the year under review.
Mr Wilton said there had been considerable media coverage of inventory and supply issues within the wine industry.
Managing director Jim Delegat said a number of New Zealand wine producers with less established sales and marketing infrastructure found that their supply from the record 2008 vintage exceeded demand for their products.
"This imbalance has resulted in increased levels of discounting by lesser known labels.
"The group has been largely unaffected by this activity to date with most of the impact being concentrated on private label and lower price wine producers," he said.
Consumers were shopping smarter and seeking out brands that delivered value relative to their price point.
The group continues to focus on making world-class super premium wine, marketed through strong and established brands, Mr Delegat said.
Mr Timms said that while he was forecasting an after-tax profit of $36 million for 2010, his foreign exchange assumptions appeared too optimistic, particularly in relation to the New Zealand dollar-British pound cross, given recent falls in the value of the pound.
"Our underlying operating performance assumptions appear reasonable at this point. It is worth bearing in mind that since listing, Delegat's has a history of providing conservative guidance to the market."
