New Zealand wants to be the world's number one producer of lower alcohol wines

By Richard Siddle

Published: 27 November, 2013

New Zealand wants to position itself as the "world's leading producer of high-quality, lower calorie and lower alcohol 'lifestyle' wines" in the biggest research project undertaken by the country's wine industry.

New Zealand Winegrowers

The move will see a formal link up between the New Zealand wine industry and government bodies to create a "world-leading research programme" into developing lower alcohol wines.

A new Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) between New Zealand Winegrowers and the Ministry for Primary Industries is being seen as the "largest research and development project ever undertaken by New Zealand's wine industry and is designed to position New Zealand as number one in the world for premium lifestyle wines," according to a joint statement from the two bodies.

The project will see New Zealand wineries invest up to NZ$8 milllion through a combination of cash and in-kind combinations. This will be matched by the MPI making a total investment of NZ$16.97 million.

Philip Gregan, New Zealand Winegrowers, chief executive, said: "This programme will capitalise on the domestic and international market demand for high quality, lower calorie and lower alcohol 'Lifestyle' wines by developing new, natural techniques for grapevine growth and wine production utilised across the New Zealand Wine Industry."

He added: "Our point of difference will be producing premium wines that can be naturally produced using sustainable viticultural techniques and native yeasts ? providing an important point of difference to existing processing methods.

"The programme will produce tangible outcomes for the grape and wine industry and the economy as a whole."

"We're excited by this programme in providing the opportunity for further innovation in the wine industry, and the potential to strengthen New Zealand's reputation as a supplier of some of the world's finest wines," said Justine Gilliland, MPI's primary growth partnership director.

"'This is the first viticulture programme in the PGP, representing an exciting stage in the overall PGP programme. It's a great example of how the PGP is enabling innovation in industries across the primary sector," she added.

The new research facility will be tasked in "developing a number of viticulture and winery tools that will enable the industry to service the rapidly growing market for lower calorie and lower alcohol wines with high quality, naturally-produced options".

"Our point of difference will be producing premium wines that can be naturally produced using sustainable viticultural techniques and native yeasts ? providing an important point of difference to existing processing methods.

"The programme will produce tangible outcomes for the grape and wine industry and the economy as a whole."

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