The end of September saw the release of the NZ Winegrowers Annual Report, which has a wealth of detail to absorb among its facts, figures and statistics.
As a whole it provides a snapshot of where our industry sits.
New Zealand produces just over 1% of the world’s wine, with 90% of the wine produced here being exported to global markets. Remarkably, Kiwi wine is exported to over 100 countries.
New Zealand wine is New Zealand’s sixth-largest export good, with EOFY 2024/25 exports bringing in $NZ2.1 billion, a solid result, though back on the peak of $NZ2.4b in 2023.
Our top three export markets are the US, UK and Australia, which collectively take 70% of our export wine. The US remains our largest market, down 3% on the previous year, while the imposition of tariffs will likely provide turbulent waters to navigate in future months. Conversely, the "emerging markets" which make up the balance of 30% of our export markets have seen a solid gain in sales of 17% in the last year, led by strong increases in China and South Korea.
The domestic market is our fourth-largest but also subject to the same uncertainty and economic malaise evident around the world, with a significant volume of grapes unpicked in harvest 2025 as a route to market is not always certain. Marlborough remains our largest vineyard region and dwarfs all others, comprising 71.65% of the national vineyard total. Hawke’s Bay and Central Otago fill second and third spots, followed by North Canterbury.
Sauvignon Blanc is still way out in front with 67.5% of the national vineyard area, along with nearly 80% of the tonnage picked. It remains our No 1 export driver. Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Merlot round out the top five in terms of tonnages picked.
While the vineyard area of Sauvignon Blanc continues to grow (gaining 1000ha in the last year alone), most other varieties have seen a decline.
Over a 10-year period Riesling has dropped 27%, Merlot 25%, and Cabernet Sauvignon 23% while (albeit from a low base) Gewurztraminer, Viognier and Arneis shrank 34%, 57% and 91% respectively.
The biggest losers in export markets have been Rose - its sales of 2600 litres being just 33% of its high point five years ago while the 8365 litres of Pinot Noir exported was barely 65% of the high set in 2018.
Coming into New Zealand, Australia dominates imports, almost 10 times larger than Chile, France and Italy respectively, with the Chilean figure undoubtedly including bulk wine for cask production.
2022 Mt Difficulty Ghost Town Central Otago Syrah
2023 Main Divide by Pegasus Bay Merlot Cabernet
2021 Trinity Hill Prison Block Cabernet Sauvignon
