New Zealand's 2016 harvest expected to be 34% larger

By Erin Smith

Published: 21 June, 2016

As the 2016 harvest draws to a close in New Zealand, growers are reporting an excellent vintage with yields up 34% compared to last year's smaller than average harvest.

"This year's vintage of 436,000 tonnes of grapes will be a welcome boost for markets, growers and wineries. The 2016 harvest is up 34% on the small 2015 crop, but is still below the record breaking 2014 vintage," said Philip Gregan, the chief executive officer of the New Zealand Winegrowers association.

It was welcome news for growers following the 2015 harvest which only brought in 326,000 tonnes of grapes.

"Going into harvest, growers and wineries were looking for a larger vintage," said Gregan.

The bigger harvest will help growers better meet the global demands for New Zealand wines which will ensure that price increases will be appropriately managed.

Philip Gregan Philip GreganPhilip Gregan

Gregan said: "In the past year we have seen continued strong demand in our key export markets, which exacerbated supply constraints following the small 2015 harvest. With good weather through the summer expectations for the vintage were high."

New Zealand continues its climb in popularity with exports valued at NZD $1.56 billion increasing 13% over the past year and showing no signs of slowing down.

New Zealand winegrowers are looking to further expand exports in the future and the larger vintage will help get them closer to that goal.

Gregan said: "The rebound in production from the 2016 Vintage will be another boost to the export ambitions of our sector. The 2016 Vintage will definitely keep us on track to achieve our goal of $2 billion of wine exports by 2020."

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