This year's record-breaking wine harvest in Central Otago will present challenges, as increasing production will strain facilities in the district.
About 10,000 tonnes of Central Otago grapes were crushed by district vineyards this year, which equates to about 700,000 cases of local wine.
Central Otago Wine Growers Association president Martin Anderson said the volume of wine produced during the 2008 harvest almost doubled that of last year's vintage, when about 6000 tonnes of grapes were crushed.
Another 3000 tonnes of grapes from Central Otago's 2008 vintage were sold to other New Zealand wine makers.
"It's a bit of a milestone for the industry here."
Mr Anderson said a large quantity of vines were planted about five years ago, and this year signalled the start of productivity for the relatively new viticulture blocks.
"As well as all the new grapes coming into production we had a very, very good season of weather, particularly in spring."
With success came pressure to maintain quality and market such large quantities of wine.
